3-2: UD Almería rebounded strong in opening game of 2026

UD Almería overcame countless adversities against Granada CF and got off to a winning start in the new year. This time, the coin landed on heads, unlike recent losses, but it was sacrifice, effort and collective determination that led to the happy outcome. UD Almería were not just a football club, but an extraordinary rowing team that navigated treacherous waters to end their two-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory. Their lack of flair was more than compensated for by collective courage in a match where the home side improved as it progressed, ultimately securing the win against strong opponents.

The Rojiblancos' injury list included almost an entire starting XI (Bonini, Lopy, Thalys, Horta, Chumi, Melamed, and Selvi) and Rubi's starting line-up featured numerous 'B' team players and significant new faces, such as the focal point of the attack, led by Baptistão. The Brazilian found the net just 30 seconds into the game; After a nutmeg inside the area on the opposing defender, his shot was stopped by Astralaga's foot after a remarkable technical move by the young goalkeeper.

Granada CF did not shy away from the opportunity, displaying a bold, fresh and dynamic style that dominated the first half of the Andalusian derby. Despite controlling possession, the Nazarí side failed to trouble Andrés Fernández in goal. The opposite was true for UD Almería, who scored the first and rather unusual, goal in the 25th minute to break the deadlock. It was precisely a broken boot that led to the 1-0 goal, scored by Gui Guedes from a corner.

The Portuguese player was adjusting his laces, which had been broken in the previous play, and, crouching down and unmarked, he cleverly rose to meet Arribas' corner kick and headed home. A subtle, long-range header, following a clever maneuver, gave the team the lead. The visitors' reaction was Goya-esque, like the whole match, and far from intimidating him, it spurred him on to continue carrying the weight of the game.

Granada CF dominated, without creating any real danger, against opponents lacking fluidity in their play but impeccable on the pitch. In fact, Baptistão was once again thwarted by an impenetrable Astralaga near the end of the first half; the goalkeeper's right glove was like steel to parry away a powerful shot from the attacker in the 37th minute.

Football rewarded Granada CF immediately afterward with a well-executed set piece, originating from a throw-in, which ended with Alemañ's equaliser following a maneuver and assist from Rubén Alcaraz inside the area. The situation became even more complicated because if there were problems before the match, the injury to centre-back Pedro Fidel rubbed salt in the wound before halftime. Rubi intelligently solved the problem with an initial decision: moving Dzôdić to the center of defense; during halftime, he completed the move by bringing on Centelles for Guedes, who had received a dangerous yellow card, pushing the Serbian midfielder into the engine room. A key move to conquer, first, the midfield, and subsequently, the scoreboard.

The second half was a completely different story. Almería, accumulating problems and implementing solutions, managed to gain ground and possession, eventually regaining the lead. Before reaping the rewards, a video game-like sequence involving a Centelles cross and a Baptistão bicycle kick that struck the post in the 54th minute ignited the Stadium. Suddenly, the crowd roared their strong support and it all culminated in Baptistão 's goal 10 minutes later. A run down the right flank ended with a shot from Embarba and a loose ball in the six-yard box, which Baptistao pounced on to make it 2-1.

Another ten minutes later, in the 74th minute, Dzódic turned the tide with a powerful, elegant, and precise strike from outside the box, all but sealing the first match of the new year. The Serbian opened his account with his first and perfectly timed professional goal, a spectacular strike.

From then on, UD Almería's recipe for securing the result remained traditional: control and teamwork. The final goal of the afternoon came after a disputed and controversial penalty awarded to Granada CF, which Jorge Pascual converted in added time, a moment that proved to be nothing more than a footnote.