Banger in the Spanish lower league!
With Almeria against Eibar, a top match takes place on Monday evening in La Liga 2. The Indálicos are at the top of the table and the visitors travel in third place. If the Basques win, however, they would draw level on points with the current leaders. So there is plenty of excitement in store and the hosts will be counting on their home bonus above all else.
Only Valladolid are ahead of the Red and Whites in the La Liga 2 home standings with three extra points. However, Real have also played one more home game. For the match at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos between Almeria and Eibar, the tip is aiming for an away win or a draw.
Almeria – Statistics & current form
UD go into their match with Eibar at the top of the table, but their form curve has shown a downward trend recently. Almeria have not won for three rounds of matches and have conceded two of only five defeats on the season during this review.
Above all, the offensive has declined. Only two goals were scored in the last three games. For what remains the best attacking line-up in La Liga 2, this is a meagre haul.
Offensive mastermind Sadiq is unavailable
One reason for the drop in performances going forward is unquestionably the absence of Umar Sadiq. The 24-year-old is the best goal-scorer for last season’s fourth-placed team, but is currently at the Africa Cup, where he is chasing goals for his home country Nigeria.
And with success, as his goal in last week’s victory for the “Super Eagles” against Guinea-Bissau shows. However, Sadiq is not only lacking as an enforcer, but equally as an assist provider – no player sets up more goals for his teammates in a league-wide comparison!
Maximum one goal by the hosts?
With this in mind, the odds on a maximum of one goal by the Rojiblancos in the match between Almeria and Eibar are also of interest. The prediction is further underpinned by the parallel loss of Dyego Sousa. The attacker has the second most direct and indirect goal participations on the Andalusian side after Sadiq.
Predicted Almeria line-up:
Fernando – Babic – Chumi – Nieto – Centelles – Costa – de la Hoz – Pozo – Robertone – Appiah – Ramazani
Last matches played by Almeria:
LaLiga2
01/19 2022 – Lugo 2 – 1 Almeria
01/09 2022 – Las Palmas 1 – 1 Almeria
Copa del Rey
01/06 2022 – Almeria 1 – 2 Elche
LaLiga2
01/02 2022 – Almeria 0 – 1 Cartagena
Copa del Rey
12/16 2021 – SD Amorebieta 1 – 2 Almeria
Eibar – Statistics & current form
The relegated team from La Liga arrives with significantly fewer personnel worries. Only the long-term injured Francisco Feuillassier can be considered a notable absence. But the Argentine has not played in midfield since mid-October, which is why his absence is now well priced in by the Armeros.
Eibar also arrive in a stable condition: Coach Gaizka Garitano’s team has not lost since the beginning of December last year. Instead, they have recorded two wins and two draws. The visitors’ showpiece is also their attack. Only the upcoming opponents score more goals in La Liga 2.
Stoichkov is the top scorer
The very good record in attack results mainly from the attacking midfielder Stoichkov. The Spaniard, whose native name is Juan Diego Molina, has already scored eleven goals – only Castro of Cartagena and the indestructible oldie Stuani of Girona top this tally.
Moreover, with this number he has already scored as many goals as he did last year after 15 games more when he was still lacing up his football boots for Sabadell.
Does La Liga 2’s third-best goalscorer strike again?
Given his goalscoring prowess with the 2014 second-division champions, betting tips on his next goal in the clash between Almeria and Eibar also make sense. The 28-year-old already scored the decisive goal against UD in the first half of the season.
Predicted line-up of Eibar:
Yoel – Tejero – Etxeita – Burgos – Arbilla – Tono – Alvarez – Javier Munoz – Exposito – Stoichkov – Sol
Last matches played by Eibar:
LaLiga2
01/10 2022 – Real Oviedo 1 – 1 Eibar
Copa del Rey
01/05 2022 – Eibar 1 – 2 Mallorca
LaLiga2
12/31 2021 – Eibar 3 – 2 Real Sociedad B
12/18 2021 – Las Palmas 0 – 1 Eibar
Copa del Rey
12/15 2021 – Tenerife 1 – 2 Eibar
Almeria – Eibar Direct comparison / H2H balance
In the first leg, the Basques prevailed against Almeria with 1-0. A somewhat fortunate victory, as the Almeriensistas were at least equal. Eibar’s away record is also very weak in this pairing: The visitors have not won at Almeria for almost 25 years! Instead, they have lost four times and drawn once.
Almeria – Eibar Tip
Almeria coach Rubi cannot be satisfied with his team’s performance at the moment. The once comfortable lead of the league leader over the chasers was almost completely squandered in the last rounds of matches. In addition, Umar Sadiq will again be absent from the upcoming match due to his participation in the Africa Cup.
As a result, “La Unión” will be missing its pivotal point in the forward play. In the match between Almeria and Eibar, the forecast includes the double chance in favour of the visitors. The Basque side are currently much more stable than their opponents and have moved to within three points of the league leaders.
With Stoichkov, they also have one of the top scorers in La Liga 2 on board and the upturn in form has long been reflected in the away games: Only one of the last five was lost and only the upcoming opponents and Tenerife score better away from home.
At the same time, they could certainly live with a draw, as this would have taken a point away from a direct competitor. A justified assumption, which leads to the selection of the double chance in favour of the guests rather than a pure win bet on them.
