UD Almería fought back at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium and paid a heavy price, suffering their first defeat of the season in Tenerife. The Rojiblancos, who deserved at least a point after their second-half reaction, were uncomfortable and at the mercy of the Chicharreros for much of the opening 45 minutes. Enric Gallego’s goal ultimately proved decisive.

The Canary Islands proved something of a Bermuda Triangle for UD Almería, at least during a first half in which the visitors struggled to find a route towards the CD Tenerife goal. Wearing their second kit, a tribute to their homeland of marble, the Rojiblancos lacked the cutting edge needed to break down a solid and commanding CD Tenerife side. They improved after the interval and created enough to get back into the game, but without the punch and bite they had shown in their home opener against CD Eldense.

First half 

Head coach García Pimienta made 3 changes to cover the absences of the injured Arribas and Guedes, with Vesga and Sola coming into the starting XI and a tactical adjustment that saw Melamed move inside alongside Miguel.

UD Almería struggled to find their usual fluency during the first half, finding it difficult to come up with solutions in possession. The statistics showed the Rojiblancos having more of the ball, but CD Tenerife had the greater intent. While UD Almería had the possession, the Islanders controlled the narrative. Cervera’s side found ways to threaten down both flanks.

It was not a game filled with attacking fireworks, but the accumulation of CD Tenerife’s chances suggested that something was coming. That moment arrived after half an hour.

Down the left, Nacho Gil produced a superb piece of skill, turning with his back to goal, controlling with his right foot and then delivering a dangerous low ball with his left. Enric Gallego met it inside the 6-yard box and finished clinically. The delivery was perfect and the finish decisive, putting the side that had looked the more dangerous in front (1–0).

Cervera had warned before the match that CD Tenerife could not allow UD Almería to run at them if they wanted a positive result. His players committed themselves to every challenge and every loose ball, earning control of both the game and the scoreboard.

Unable to turn and deprived of the attacking threat they had shown the previous week, the Indálicos barely troubled Dani’s goal before half-time.

Second half 

The first step towards changing a game is introducing the elements capable of changing it, and Pimienta did not wait to see what would happen after the restart. Cipenga’s introduction pushed the Tinerfeños deeper and without doubt, sparked a reaction from the visitors as they began to take control.

UD Almería imposed their rhythm. The opening stages of the second half were promising, although the hosts, who were performing at a high level, soon managed to restore the balance.

With the hour mark approaching, García Pimienta once again shuffled his side, refreshing the right flank with Luna replacing Chirino and making a significant change in midfield as Quim came on for Vesga.

The energy of the trio of Cipenga, Melamed and Quim began to crack CD Tenerife’s well-organised defensive web. UD Almería regained control and produced enough to have deserved at least an equaliser. But their spell of pressure ultimately went unrewarded.

They came agonisingly close in the 73rd minute, when Melamed struck the left-hand post after a fine move. Luna had burst into the box from the right before pulling the ball back towards the penalty spot, where Melamed met it. His effort came within inches of levelling the score.

It was a clear-cut chance and a statement of intent. A few minutes later, Dzôdić also came close to making it 1-1. This time the move developed down the opposite flank before the midfielder arrived on the edge of the box and struck a low, well-hit effort that flew narrowly past the right-hand post.

Pimienta’s side had finally laid siege to the CD Tenerife goal and had enough time to find a way back into the game, but it was not to be. The Chicharreros defended every action to the limit, weathered UD Almería’s pressure and held on to keep a clean sheet.

The Rojiblancos therefore leave the island empty-handed, suffering their first defeat of the season in their first away game.