3-1: Nico Melamed makes UD Almería debut and gets off the mark against SL Benfica
The Rojiblancos lost to a Champions League team in a friendly played less than 24 hours after Granada CF's test. This Monday will be a day off for the squad before travelling to Marbella on Tuesday to start the training camp
In less than 24 hours, UD Almería played their second pre-season friendly that saw them facing a Champions League team. Portuguese top-tier side SL Benfica won 3-1 in the French town of Thonon Les Bains, very close to Switzerland, where the UD Almeria players travelled on Sunday morning. The second week of the pre-season came to an end after many training sessions and two very demanding consecutive friendly matches. The result is the least important as it does not really reflect what happened on the pitch, since the Lusitanians, although they had greater possession, were not so superior. UD Almería showed their grit and quality despite having little match-action, making a long trip to France and having tough opponents SL Benfica. The test was more than positive. Nico Melamed made his UD Almería debut. He started, he was on the left wing although he had a lot of mobility. He got off the mark with a goal that put them in front 0-1 after 23 minutes. He connected a cross from Edgar inside the area. Shortly after, SL Benfica tied, but in the 36th and 43rd minutes, Nicol Melamed and Valen had chances to make it 1-2 before the break.
If in the first half there was plenty of end-to-end activity, in the second it was the Portuguese who took the initiative most, without being clearly superior since UD Almería knew how to keep them, for many moments, at bay with a good defensive display. They even had their options in attack. What the Indálicos could not avoid were the goals from Cabral, from about 32 yards with Maximiano ahead, or from Mario, with a very powerful and low shot from the edge of the box. Very specific moments that marked the international meeting.
Head coach Rubi continued to distribute the minutes among his players, initially betting on a starting XI different from the ones he fielded against Granada CF, just as the one that finished the game was also different. In addition to Nico Melamed's debut, players like Melero and Edgar debuted in the pre-season, while others had a rest.
Match information:
SL Benfica: Anatoli Trubin, Thiago Aursnes, Tomás Araujo, Morato, Álvaro Carreras, David Neres, Leonardo, Florentino, Thiago Gouveia, Barreiro and Pavlidis. Samuel, Tengstedt, Mario, Prestianni, Neto, Bajrami, Diogo Spencer, Cabral, Joao Regó and Beste also played.
UD Almería: Maximiano (Bruno Iribarne, 60'), Pozo (Arnau Puigmal, 60'), Chumi (Radovanović, 60'), René (Kaiky, 60'), Centelles (Bruno Langa, 60'), Edgar (Lopy, 45'), Gui Guedes (Arribas, 60'), Valen (Ramazani, 45'), Melero (Marcos Peña, minute 45'), Nico Melamed (Appiah, 60') and Koné (Marezi, 45')
Referee: Alexandra Collin, international French referee.
Goals: 0-1 (23'). Throw-in by Pozo on Edgar, he receives it within the area, crosses in and Nico Melamed connects to the back of the net. 1-1 (35'). Leonardo assists Pavlidis, as he runs into the area. 2-1 (52'). Cabral sees Maximiano ahead of him and from about 32 yards he strikes. 3-1 (72'). Mario, with a powerful low shot that Bruno Iribarne cannot save.
Observations: Second pre-season friendly game for UD Almería played at the Stade Joseph Moynat Stadium located in the French city of Thonon Les Bains, in the French Alps, very close to Switzerland. Around 5,000 spectators and a massive presence of SL Benfica fans, a club that is having their pre-season training camp in this area. The UD Almeria team debuted wearing the away kit, which for the new season is dark green.