They both shoot – yes
They both shoot – yes
Almeria, 6 rounds before the end of the season, found itself in the epicenter of the fight for survival. Joan Rubi’s men took 16th place, 2 points ahead of the relegation zone.
In the last 5 rounds, “red-white” suffered 3 defeats, but it is worth paying tribute to the level of rivals. In clashes with Atlético Madrid (1-2), Real Madrid (2-4) and Atletico Madrid (1-2) there were few opportunities to score at first. With a decent attack, Almería’s main problem is defending. On average per game, he allows his opponents to create 1.75 xg, which is the penultimate result in the league.
Elche have done an impressive job under new coach Sebastian Beccaceche. Under the new manager, the Greenstripes have never repeated their starting lineup, but they continue to develop in such a mess that speaks volumes.
In the first 5 rounds led by Beccaceche, the green-striped players lost in the match against Celta (0:1) in the 31st round, a clear improvement was visible. They succeeded in the game in the final meeting with Rayo Vallecano (4:0), where they defeated the rival in expected goals (xg: 2.8: 0.8).
Of course, it would be reckless to expect Elche to repeat their success in this match, especially since they are away. However, I think that the “green-striped” will be able to use the problematic defense of the rival.