Barcelona vs Almeria Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
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THE FACTS
When is Barcelona vs Almeria on and what time does it start? Barcelona vs Almeria will take place on Sunday 4th June, 2023 – 18:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Barcelona vs Almeria? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Barcelona vs Almeria on in the UK? Barcelona vs Almeria will be televised live on LaLigaTV, but La Liga matches are also televised occasionally on Viaplay Sports and ITV
Where can I stream Barcelona vs Almeria in the UK? Barcelona vs Almeria can be streamed live on Viaplay, while ITV matches can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
BARCELONA
Barcelona are the defending champions but it was pointed out quite often last year that they had been underwhelming in their performances as they clinched the Spanish title and that they would have to improve this time around with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid unlikely to be as bad but Xavi is coming under pressure with the Catalans seemingly going backwards.
The Blaugrana come into this one on the back of being held to a 1-1 draw by Valencia at Mestalla at the weekend and continuing their generally poor form. Barcelona have managed just three victories in their last ten matches across all competitions with all three of those wins coming by just a solitary goal.
ALMERIA
Almeria survived the drop on the final day of last season but the Andalusians will do well to still be in with a chance of survival that late this time around. Gaizka Garitano has been appointed with performances slightly improving but they remain rock-bottom and begin this weekend sitting eight points adrift of 17th down in the bottom three.
They are, remarkably, still winless, too, after 17 matches. They have managed five draws with 12 defeats so far this season and have conceded 39 goals, which is the leakiest defensive record in Spain’s top-flight. They come into this one on the back of being held to a goalless draw by fellow strugglers Real Mallorca in their most recent outing, last weekend.
THE TEAM NEWS
BARCELONA
Barcelona will be without midfielder Frenkie de Jong due to suspension, whilst Inigo Martinez, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marcos Alonso and Gavi are out injured.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Pena; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Cancelo; Pedri, Romeu, Gundogan; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Joao Felix
UNAVAILABLE: De Jong (Suspended), Martinez (Injured), Alonso (Injured), Gavi (Injured), ter Stegen (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ALMERIA
Almeria have several absentees for the trip north to Catalonia with Lucas Robertone out suspended and the likes of Gonzalo Melero and Luis Suarez remain doubts for this week.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Maximiano; Chumi, Montes, Edgar Gonzalez; Pozo, Baba, Lopy, Akieme; Arribas, Baptistao, Embarba
UNAVAILABLE: Robertone (Suspended), Milovanovic (Injured), Kone (Injured), Svidersky (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Melero (Injured), Suarez (Injured), Pubill (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
The form that Barcelona are in right now is not just about results with their performances also undermining the work that had been done last season to re-establish themselves at the top-of-the-table in Spain. They have been stodgy and lacking any real cohesion or patterns of play. They now face an Almeria side that have remained winless under Garitano but are at least becoming a little more stubborn. Given all of those factors, a low-scoring encounter, albeit with the likelihood of a home win, appears very likely.
TIP: BARCELONA TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
