Almeria's search for their first La Liga victory of the season will continue on Sunday afternoon when they make the trip to fellow strugglers Alaves.
The visitors have only picked up three points from their opening 11 matches of the campaign, which has left them rock bottom of the table, while Alaves are 17th on nine points from their first 11 games.
Match preview
© Reuters
Alaves have won two, drawn three and lost six of their 11 La Liga matches this season to collect nine points, which has left them in 17th position in the table, three points outside of the relegation zone.
El Glorioso secured a return to this level through last season's Segunda Division playoffs, but it has been a struggle thus far, with their last victory in the league coming at the start of September.
Luis Garcia's side are on a seven-game winless run in Spain's top flight, although they have only lost two of their last five, drawing with Celta Vigo, Real Betis and Villarreal during that run.
Alaves suffered a 2-1 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the league last weekend, but they will enter this match off the back of a hugely positive result, thumping Deportivo Murcia 10-0 in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.
The Blue and Whites have won two, drawn one and lost two of their five league matches at home this season, and they will be facing the only winless side in La Liga on Sunday afternoon.
© Reuters
Indeed, Almeria's search for their first league victory of the 2023-24 campaign continues, with a tough start to the season leaving the team bottom of the division on three points.
La Union started October with a home draw against Granada but then lost three straight matches to Athletic Bilbao, Girona and Las Palmas.
Gaizka Garitano's side will enter this match off the back of a positive result, though, having beaten Talavera 2-0 in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday to progress to the second round of the competition.
Almeria finished 17th in La Liga last season, narrowly avoiding relegation on the final matchday of the campaign, so it is not too much of a surprise to see them in their current position.
UDA are bidding to make it successive campaigns in the top flight for the first time since 2014-15, and the gap to 17th position is only six points, so it is not quite the time to hit the panic button despite the team's very difficult opening to the season.
Team News
© Reuters
Alaves remain without the services of on-loan Atletico Madrid attacker Giuliano Simeone due to a serious ankle problem, while Nikola Maras will again miss out following a head injury.
Jon Karrikaburu scored a hat-trick in the Copa del Rey on Thursday and is expected to keep his spot in the final third of the field, while Abde Rebbach, who hit a brace in the same match, should also start.
Xeber Alkain also registered a brace in the Copa del Rey but might be forced to accept a spot on the bench, as Luis Rioja and Jon Guridi are expected to feature in the attacking areas.
Almeria, meanwhile, will be missing Sergio Akieme, Ibrahima Kone, Luis Suarez, Marc Pubill and Martin Svidersky for the clash with Alaves.
Largie Ramazani was on the scoresheet against Talavera in the Copa del Rey and could now keep his spot in an attacking area, having also netted off the bench against Las Palmas in the league last time out.
Leo Baptistao is again expected to get the nod through the middle for the team at the bottom of the division, while Sergio Arribas could also be introduced into the La Liga XI.
Alaves possible starting lineup:
Sivera; Gorosabel, Aqbar, Sedlar, R Duarte; Blanco, Guevara; Rebbach, Guridi, Rioja; Karrikaburu
Almeria possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Pozo, Montes, Chumi, Centelles; Lopy, Baba; Ramazani, Arribas, Embarba; Baptistao
We say: Alaves 1-1 Almeria
These two teams are well-matched on paper, and we are expecting a tight match on Sunday. Almeria have lost their last four La Liga matches on the road, but we have a feeling that they will be good enough for a point this weekend, as Alaves have also had issues winning matches this season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
