0-2: UD Almería shift gears with promising win over Águilas FC
Second-half surge earns the Rojiblancos the Alfonso García Zapata Trophy in pre-season summer test. Sergio Arribas and Marcos Luna earn their names onto the scoresheet
UD Almería showed signs of sharp progress in their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 victory over Águilas FC, claiming the 5th edition of the Alfonso García Zapata Memorial Trophy. Goals courtesy of Sergio Arribas and Marcos Luna in a much-improved second-half performance sealed the win for Rubi’s side, who continue building towards the new season.
Head coach Rubi stuck to his strategy of rotating the squad, starting with Andrés Fernández in goal; Chirino, Chumi, Nelson Monte and Centelles in defence; Lopy and Gui Guedes in midfield, with Arribas ahead of them. Baptistão and Perovic operated on the wings, while Soko led the attack.
An injury to Nelson Monte forced an early change in the 26th minute, with Dzodic replacing him. At the 55-minute mark, Rubi made 3 changes: Horta for Gui Guedes, Arnau Puigmal for Baptistão and Nico Melamed for Perovic. In the 70th minute, Marcos Luna came on for Chirino, while Lázaro Vinicius replaced Soko. 4 more changes followed in the 78th minute, with Embarba, Alex Muñoz, Quintanilla and Pedro Fidel coming on for Arribas, Centelles, Lopy and Chumi.
Despite a sluggish and error-strewn opening half hampered by heat, fatigue and a fired-up Águilas FC side, the Rojiblancos found their rhythm after the break. The introduction of André Horta helped shift the momentum, linking up well with Lopy and Arribas to give UD Almería greater control and attacking threat.
Arribas broke the deadlock on 63 minutes with a thunderous free-kick, before Luna capped off a swift counter-attack to double the lead in the 76th minute. Arnau Puigmal also impressed on the right, contributing to a commanding final period.
A cloud over the evening was the injury to Nelson Monte, who limped off with an ankle problem just 26 minutes in, a concern for a squad already short on centre-backs.
Still under construction and with several gaps to fill, UD Almería are beginning to flash signs of progress as the 2025/26 season approaches.
After the final whistle, captain Chumi lifted the trophy from former UD Almería president Alfonso García Gabarrón.