Espanyol’s season ends here against Almeria and it couldn’t come too soon for Ernesto Valverde’s men. They have had a disasterous second half of the season, losing thirteen games, drawing three and winning three since the beginning of the year. Luckily they started the season in style and now don’t have to worry about relegation, but their European dreams died a long time ago. The future of coach Valverde is still very much up in the air, as the club’s directors can’t figured out how he allowed the team to drop from third in the league to eleventh in just a few short months.
Almeria’s first season back in the top flight of Spanish football has been much more positive, though. Back in August they were the bookie’s favorite to go straight back down to the second division, but they have more than held their own and could even finish in eighth position if they can get a win here. The end of the season however has taken its toll on the new boys, and Almeria have won just twice in their last seven matches, including that embarrassing six goal to two thumping at the hands of Atlético Madrid. They are currently on a two game losing streak and, while this game won’t make too much difference to the outcome of the league, they will surely want to finish winning.
Espanyol haven’t won a game since the middle of March and I can’t see that changing here. Why their game has dropped by such a dramatic degree is a mystery, although they have been plagued by injuries to their top players. I’m going for an Almeria win here, while Espanyol at least have the comfort of knowing that they still have a place in next season’s La Liga to get things sorted out.
Prediction: Away win (0-1)

This could well be the game that decides who plays in the UEFA cup next season and who doesn’t. Almeria have had a terrific season so far, and many people (including me) were betting on them going straight back down to the second division. However, coach Unai Emery has put together a solid, competitive squad and as a result has beaten the likes of Real Madrid, Valencia, and Villarreal last weekend. They also beat Sevilla earlier on in the season when the Andalucian outfit visited Almeria’s Mediterraneo stadium.
Sevilla though should be quietly confident of getting a good result and practically ensuring at least a place in the UEFA cup next season. They are currently sixth in the league and occupying the last spot to qualify for the second European competition, while Almeria are just behind in seventh but with a six point gap. If Sevilla can widen this to nine points with five games to go, it will take a lot of pressure of the players and coach Manolo Jimenez.
Sevilla’s Brazilian midfielder Adriano has been declared fit after his ligament injury which caused him to miss Sevilla’s win away to Mallorca last weekend. Kanoute and Alves exercised in the gym this week but both will more than likely start the game on Saturday. But the Serbian defender Ivica Dragutinovic is definitely out as is Julien Escudé, and Uruguayan striker Chevanton is still out injured too.
As for Almeria, Albert Crusat will miss the game because of a one match ban for getting ghis fifth yellow card during the Villarreal win, but Unai Emery can count on both Pulido and Juanito, who were suspended for last weekend’s match.
I’m going to go for a Sevilla win here but it is going to be a close fought game. Sevilla have a lot of class players, and if they had a top class manager they would surely be in a Champions league spot by now after a very rough start to the season. Almeria can still dream of European football, but they will be just as happy with surviving in their first season back in the top flight of Spanish football.
Prediction: Home win (2-1)

Atlético Madrid have to pick themselves up after their awful performance away to Villarreal at the weekend where they lost by three goals to nil and put next season’s Champions league involvement in doubt. The red and whites were six points behind Villarreal but that has now been extended to nine points and Racing de Santander’s win means Atlético are still in fourth place but with the same points as Racing. Anything but a win here against an in form Almeria side could mean a huge disappointment for the fans who need just the slightest excuse to berate their team and more specifically coach Javier Aguirre.
Almeria by contrast don’t have to suffer any of Atlético’s pressure at the moment. Their objective this season was to avoid the relegation drop back down to the second division and this they have more than achieved. They beat almost relegated Levante at home at the weekend by two goals to one and showed once again why they are kings of the dead ball goal. Both their goals came from corners like on so many occasions this season, and their defense was more than prepared to shake off Levante’s attacks. They are currently in eighth place and amazingly are fighting for a place in the UEFA cup zone. Being just three points behind sixth placed Sevilla, they could get their dream come true and will be treating this match like a final.
In team news, Simao Sabrosa is still in the dry dock and will miss this match. Atlético Madrid really missed him against Villarreal and his absence here will leave a big hole in the midfield. Also out for Atlético are Mariano Pernia and Thiago Motta, while Juan Valera is back in full training after being out for over a month. One Atlético Madrid player who more than likely won’t be making an appearance on Sunday is Jose Antonio Reyes. The ex-Arsenal midfielder was apparently involved in a bust up with coach Javier Aguirre and gravely insulted the Mexican manager. It is doubtful that he will pull on the Atlético shirt again and will more than likely be sold at the end of the season.
As for Unai Emery, the Almeria coach, he only has to decide whether to bring back Miguel Angel Coroner into the side or not. The Spanish midfielder has been out for six days and has made a remarkably fast recovery from a muscle tear, as he was marked to be out of contention for at least three weeks.
This is going to be a very hard game to predict. Atlético Madrid are capable of the best –and worst- this season, but aren’t in fourth place because of luck. If they want to keep in fourth position they will have to win. As for Almeria, they are in a comfortable position in the league and I don’t think they will have Atlético’s drive to get the three points in this one. Also, they have only won three away games this season.
Prediction: Home win (3-1)

Life is pretty sweet for Almeria fans at the moment. At the beginning of the season they were fearing the worst and most experts had the team as sure candidates for going straight back down to the second division. However, after seven months of competition, Almeria are more than holding their own, and now occupy the relatively safe position of tenth in the league and just six points from a place in the UEFA cup. What’s more, they have lost just two matches from the last twelve, haven’t lost at home since December, and picked up four points from their two – two draw with Barcelona and that memorable win over Real Madrid. This Sunday they play hosts to a Levante side that is sitting at the bottom of the league and thirteen points from salvation, needing nothing less than a miracle to escape certain relegation.
The down side is that Almeria haven’t won a game in five attempts, having drawn three matches they should really have won. Levante are in an even worse state though, having lost their last three matches and even the players as well as the fans know that their fate has been pretty much sealed. The truth is that the Levante players have lost their faith in the team, and have accepted the fact that the club will be relegated. When players aren’t being paid and have problems paying bills doesn’t help much either, and I doubt if any of them really care about the future of Levante.
I would have gone for a home win here but the home side do have some injury problems. Almeria have proved that they are capable of surviving in the top flight of Spanish football, something which cannot be said for Levante. Almeria coach Unai Emery has done a marvelous job in molding his players into a fighting unit, and although they haven’t scored many goals (only Levante have scored less) they really take advantage of the goals they do score (they have conceded twenty eight, the same as Real Madrid). I’m going some a score draw, but don’t expect to see lots of goals here.
Prediction: Draw (1-1)

Zaragoza have a complicated home game this weekend which will be extremely difficult to predict. Under new coach Manolo Villanova, Zaragoza have won once and lost once. Last weekend they were on the losing end of a two goals to nil result against Villarreal, but I still can’t understand how they managed not to go home without the three points on offer. Throughout the ninety minutes Zaragoza dominated Villarreal and it was only the sublime performance from goalkeeper Diego Lopez that kept Zaragoza from scoring. The referee also played an important role, twice denying the visitors clear penalties, although Zaragoza’s defense really needs to wake up.
Almeria on the other hand are clearly enjoying their first season back in the top flight. At the weekend they held Catalan giants Barcelona to a two – two draw and were unlucky not to take all three points. They have lost just two league games this year, winning five and drawing another four. Although they are one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to scoring goals –they have only netted twenty five times in twenty eight games- their defense is one of the best in La Liga and they have conceded just twenty seven. The only time Almeria have managed to score more than two goals in a game was their opening match of the season when they beat Deportivo de la Coruña away by three goals to nil. If Zaragoza are capable of putting two past them they should win it, as Almeria are very bad at coming back from behind.
I’m going for a draw here. Zaragoza on paper shouldn’t have any problem here whatsoever, but then again on paper Zaragoza should be fighting for a place in the UEFA cup and not sixteenth in the league and on the same points as Recreativo de Huelva who are third from bottom and in the relegation zone. Almeria are currently ninth and could even be in with a shot of earning a UEFA cup place by the end of the season. However, Zaragoza coach Manolo Villanova seems to be doing something right and I expect him to go into this game with extreme caution. Almeria have lost their last two matches away from their home ground and I also expect them to go into this match with caution, so a one – one or even goalless draw could be on the books.
Prediction: Draw (1-1)

This is going to be a very tight game to predict as both teams need the three points to continue their European dream next season. Racing de Santander have witnessed a recent flop in form, not winning in the league since the away win at Osasuna in January and have lost twice and drawn the other three matches. This has seen them drop from sixth in the league to eighth and are now a point behind their opponent in this game.
Almeria are fast becoming the revelation of the present season and are undefeated in the last seven league games, getting seventeen points from a possible twenty one. They have seen off the likes of Real Madrid and Espanyol and have risen from sixteenth in the table to seventh and just seven weeks.
Racing’s injury woes seem to be getting a little better. Pedro Munitis, Racing’s top goal scorer, starting training with his companions again after his wrist injury and should be able to make an appearance against Almeria. Tchité and Smolarek will also make a comeback from their respective problems so Racing will be at almost full strength again. Almeria meanwhile don’t have any injury worries at the moment, although both Rubén Pulido and Felipe Melo will miss this clash due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
The Wednesday after this match Racing take on Getafe in the semi final first leg at Getafe’s Coliseum stadium. This is the first time in their history the Cantabrian side have gotten so run in the competition and will want to put I a good display. However, they can’t let that game come before their league progress if they want to finish in a UEFA cup spot.
At the weekend Racing earned a good point in an away draw against Villarreal, while Almeria beat Murcia at home in a dull one nil victory. I’m going for a Racing win here, as with their strikers back from injury they should have no real problems getting all three points from Almeria, who are struggling away from home. It will be a close match though, and this will probably be reflected in the score line.
Prediction: Home win (1-0)