1-1: Debutants Juan Villar, Chumi and Aitor Buñuel play their first friendly as Almería players

Forward Juan Villar, centre-back Chumi and right-back Aitor Buñuel debuted for Almería in the friendly match played in the morning against Real Balompédica Linense at Marbella Football Center. The Rojiblancos’ pre-season comes to an end after playing their second-to-last unofficial game before heading back home. 

The meeting kicked off at 10.30 a.m. in a hot morning day. As time went by, the temperature was rising, a fact that undoubtedly increased the players’ workload during this unprecedented pre-season. As it happened against Badajoz, last Saturday, the match was 120 minutes long divided into four quarters.

The meeting was mostly dominated by Almería, who had more ball possession, although the Rojiblancos failed to put chances away. In fact, the game was more about intentions than realities when it comes down to developing the style of play that José Gomes seeks. In this regard, their performance was getting slightly worse, perhaps due to the arguments mentioned above.

The head coach Jose Gomes picked a starting eleven formed by Fernando between the sticks; Balliu, Maras, Iván Martos and Jonathan Silva, a solid defence; Petrovic and César de la Hoz, playing as defensive midfielders; Corpas, Lazo and Fran Villalba playing in a more advanced position, and last but least striker Juan Villar, who made his debut, although he did not manage to produce some magic. In the 17th minute, Samu Costa came on for Petrovic, who was feeling a little discomfort on 45 minutes; goalie Makaridze came off the bench to take Fernando’s place in goal and in the 49th minute Ramazani entered the pitch as Corpas was subbed following a kick in his leg. 

In the third quarter there were many changes, the aforementioned Makaridze; Romera, Peybernes, Chumi, Fermín (Almeria B) positioned as defenders; Aguza and Samú Costa playing as holding midfielders; Aketxe, Dani Albiar (Almeria B), and Ramazani in midfield; and finally Juan Ibiza, who was in action as a centre-forward; the gaffer did not have more contenders to fill that position since the Uruguayans Juan Gutiérrez and Cristian Olivera have just arrived. The central defender from Ibiza made the most of this new position, scoring a superb header, in the 76th minute making it 1-0 thanks to a cross at hands of Dani Albiar after an effective play on the right flank by Romera and Aketxe.

In the fourth and last period, there was time for a double substitution. This time around, it was keeper Lluís Tarrés’ turn to defend the goal while Javi Robles took over Samú Costa.

In the final stretch of the match, with 96 minutes on the clock, La Balompédica, who not only played fair but also brilliantly, especially from the third quarter following a set-piece goal produced to draw level.