Almeria vs Sevilla Predictions & Match Preview

Almeria vs Sevilla predictions and match preview for Saturday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups ahead of this Andalusian derby.

Almeria vs Sevilla Preview

There’s an Andalusian derby to bring the curtain down on Saturday’s action. There are around 400 kilometres between Almeria and Seville so we use the term “derby” only lightly but it’s a big occasion for the hosts who are targeting their first win since returning to the big time.

There have been plenty of positives in their opening two performances too. They gave Real Madrid a fright on the opening weekend and created enough chances to score more than once in the game but ultimately fell to a 2-1 defeat, no disgrace against the defending Spanish and European champions. They then did pick up a point in the 1-1 draw at Elche last time out and once again showed enough quality to suggest they do belong at this level.

It does promise to be an interesting few days ahead though at Almeria. Star striker Umar Sadiq remains when many thought he would already have departed and to his credit hasn’t rocked the boat at all despite the prospect of a big money move. His future remains something of a mystery but with several LaLiga clubs in the market for a striker and Almeria still needing funds to register signings and perhaps add more, it’s still likely he will leave before next Thursday’s deadline.

Sevilla are one of the clubs who could perhaps do with a striker and they have been regularly linked with a move for Espanyol’s Raul De Tomas. It certainly promises to be an interesting end to the transfer window at the Sanchez-Pizjuan and they need to do good business as Sevilla really haven’t convinced so far this term and Julen Lopetegui will have a lot more questions than answers about his side heading into this one.

There are issues at both ends of the pitch. Defensively, his efforts to bed in new signings have been hampered by an injury to Marcao while first choice left-back Marcos Acuna is suspended here. At the other end, Lopetegui isn’t short on options but doesn’t seem clear at all as to what his best attacking options are. They needed a late goalkeeping howler from Real Valladolid’s Sergio Asenjo last time out to spare them the embarrassment of a home defeat against newly promoted opposition but 1 point from 2 games so far represents a poor start to the campaign.

Team News & Possible Lineups

Almeria

Possible XI: Fernando – Akieme, Babic, Kaiky, Ely, Arnau – Samu Costa, Robertone, Eguaras – Ramazani, Sadiq (5-3-2)

Coach: Rubi

Sevilla

Possible XI: Bono – Telles, Rekik, Nianzou, Montiel – Papu Gomez, Fernando, Jordan – Isco, En-Nesyri, Ocampos (4-3-3)

Coach: Julen Lopetegui

Score Prediction: Almeria 2-1 Sevilla

This feels a bit like matchday one where Sevilla went to El Sadar with defensive selection problems and struggled to cope. Almeria have been bright so far and are playing with the energy of a newly promoted side that hasn’t yet had their confidence bruised by the realities of playing at a higher level. With the crowd playing a part, they may just upset a Sevilla side which is clearly struggling right now.

PLEASE NOTE – Our LaLiga predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.