La Liga Preview: Almeria - Real Madrid

Posted Friday, April 16, 2010 by Goal.com

Kick Off: Thursday, April 15, 2010. 20:00 CET
Estadio del Mediterraneo, Almeria

Solid At Home

Sitting in the heart of the Primera Division table, Almeria have enjoyed a relatively successful season to date, and they will want to cap it with a memorable victory against Real Madrid in midweek, which would essentially secure their place in next season’s top flight.

With 37 points to their name thus far, Juan Manuel Lillo’s side are only just shy of the 40 mark barrier generally considered to be the mark of safety. Boasting an unbeaten record at the Estadio del Mediterraneo, the home side can approach Thursday evening’s game with a degree of confidence.

Only four times during Lillo’s relatively brief reign, which begun in the winter break, has he watched his side suffer defeat. Two of these four occasions have occurred in the last three matches, with losses against Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao.

Sunday’s reverse in the Basque Lands was a particular shock for the side who finished 11th last season as they were thumped 4-1. That game was over after just 50 minutes, as Lillo’s side had already lost four strikes, and they had survived a missed penalty to boot.

It goes without saying that a far stronger performance is required if they are to live with their illustrious guests on Thursday. At home, they can hold out some hope, looking to rekindle the spirit that earned them a 2-2 draw against Barcelona in early March.

Capital Punishment

Clasico defeat was hard to take for Real Madrid on Saturday. Los Blancos were comfortably contained by Barcelona as they were defeated 2-0 on home soil, losing a fourth consecutive encounter against their great rivals but also allowing the initiative in La Primera Division to be handed to la Blaugrana, who have proven so successful over the last two years.

Even Cristiano Ronaldo was somewhat resigned after the weekend’s loss, though his praise of Barca was underpinned with a belief that the Catalans may yet slip up. “Barcelona played at a much higher level than us, but we have to keep our head high, because there are still seven games remaining,” he explained to the press. “As long as we can still win the league, then we must not talk of failure. We must believe that it is possible. I am a professional and will not give up.”

Of course, coach Manuel Pellegrini has come under increasing pressure following that result, though his counterpart at Barcelona had some kind words for him after the weekend’s game. “The work that Pellegrini has done in the league is outrageously good,” he explained. “Seventy-seven points is outrageous. I wish him all the best but whether or not he continues is up to Madrid.”

Without the league crown, it seems almost unthinkable that Pellegrini will be allowed to continue in charge of los Blancos by their success-driven board. Even if he claims the Primera Division title, the Chilean may well find himself out of work come the summer as the Champions League was the primary aim of los Merengues, and that dream has well and truly been extinguished.

The league is all Real have to focus on, and it would be a major shock if there were to be any further slip-ups on Thursday.

FORM GUIDE

Almeria

LOST 4-1 (a) Athletic Bilbao (Liga, April 11)

DREW 1-1 (h) Mallorca (Liga, April 4)

LOST 1-0 (a) Osasuna (Liga, March 28)

WON 1-0 (h) Zaragoza (Liga, March 24)

LOST 2-0 (a) Valencia (Liga, March 21)

Real Madrid

LOST 2-0 (h) Barcelona (Liga, April 10)

WON 2-0 (a) Racing Santander (Liga, April 4)

WON 3-2 (h) Atletico Madrid (Liga, March 28)

WON 4-2 (a) Getafe (Liga, March 25)

WON 3-1 (h) Sporting de Gijon (Liga, March 20)

TEAM NEWS

Almeria

Chico continues to miss out with a muscular injury, though there is seemingly better news regarding former Real striker Esteban Solari, who could feature against his old team if he is feeling fit on Thursday.

Juan Manuel Lillo has stated the only motivation his players need to win is beating an illustrious team like los Blancos.

Probable Starting XI: Diego Alves; Michel, Pellerano, Acasiete, Cisma; M’Bami, Bernardello; Ortiz, Corona, Piatti; Uche

Real Madrid

Rafael van der Vaart has shaken off a slight problem picked up in El Clasico to feature on Thursday, though Kaka remains absent. Some reports have suggested the Brazilian could return on Sunday though.

Raul and Christoph Metzelder have both acquired problems that will rule them out of action for around a three weeks.

Probable Starting XI: Casillas; Ramos, Albiol, Garay, Arbeloa; Granero, Alonso, L. Diarra; Van der Vaart; Higuain, Ronaldo

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Almeria

Pablo Piatti is the man who will be expected to make things tick for the southerners. Reports in France suggest that he is being lined up by Lille as a potential replacement for young Belgian winger Eden Hazard, who is supposedly a target for los Merengues. The 21-year-old is still regarded as one of the great future hopes of Argentine football and will want to showcase his array of skills against one of the world’s best sides.

Real Madrid

Once again Gonzalo Higuain failed to perform on the big stage, and questions are starting to rise over his future with the Galacticos. The Argentine has been utterly prolific against the lesser sides, but he simply hasn’t shone when it’s mattered. He bounced back from criticism after the Champions League exit against Olympique Lyonnais by scoring a hat-trick against Valladolid, and he needs another strong showing to damped voices expressing their doubts over his big-game temperament.

PREDICTION

Although Almeria have yet to lose at home under Juan Manuel Lillo, all good things must come to an end, and if there is ever a match they are likely to struggle in, it is against a wounded Real Madrid. Los Blancos simply have to win this game to alleviate some of the pressure following their Clasico reverse, so don’t be surprised to see Manuel Pelegrini’s side registered a good number of goals.

Almeria 1-3 Real Madrid