3-2: UD Almería maintain strong home form to climp up the table
First-half goals from Baptistão, Embarba and El Bilal seal the Rojiblancos’ victory over direct rivals Girona FC. The Rojiblancos leap up 5 places into the table.
UD Almería won a game in which they ended up suffering despite leading 3-0 at half-time. First-half goals from Leo Baptistão, Embarba and El Bilal made it possible to face a second half with a three-goal cushion, in which direct rivals Girona FC pegged them back as soon as it started with Riquelme's finish. Then, Stuani’s penalty goal brought the Catalans closer to a draw that would never happen fortunately for the Rojiblancos.
Head coach Rubi made some changes with respect to the previous starting line-up, bringing in Embarba instead of Ramazani and Robertone replacing Eguaras. The gaffer had already commented during the pre-match presser on the need to rotate the players before the demanding weeks prior to the winter break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The first stages of the clash were unquestionably dominated by UD Almería, so much so that in the 17th minute, they put themselves in front 2-0. The opening goal was scored by Baptistão through a towering header after a superb assist from Mendes, and shortly after, the second was netted courtesy of El Bilal, who only had to tap in an accidental lobbed ball by an opponent over his own keeper. Girona FC went all out to peg the hosts back quickly, and inside 18 minutes, Arnau’s great header brushed Fernando's post.
The Rojiblancos showed more composure on the ball much of the first period, as they did not let the Catalans create threatening situations. In fact, with 37 minutes gone, Embarba stretched his team’s lead (3-0) following a thunderbolt free-kick from the edge of the box, impossible for the visiting goalkeeper to save.
Girona FC sought a quick reaction and managed to pull one back, but it was ruled out for offside. Before reaching the break, the fourth goal could have sparked more celebrations for the Indalicos when El Bilal Touré dummied the visitor's defence before shooting just past Juan Carlos's far post. Rubi's men played one of the best first halves of the current season.
The second half did not start well for the Rojiblancos since in the 46th minute, the Blanc-i-Vermells scored their first goal of the night taking advantage of a counter-attack, Riquelme lobbing Fernando (3-1).
Girona FC began to engineer countless chances with plenty of hope, especially on the left wing so Pozo came on from the bench as a left-winger replacing Embarba and Akieme was placed in the defensive third. UD Almería also fashioned their chances, but without the same danger as in the opening 45 minutes..
With 77 minute on the clock, the VAR awarded Girona FC a penalty, however stretching Fernando found the spark and denied Stuani, leaving the score at 3-1 with 10 minutes remaining. But just 3 minutes later, the VAR stepped in yet again to award the visitors their second penalty and this time, Stuani beat Fernando to make it 3-2.
The dying minutes of the game would be nerve-wracking since the Catalans went to incredible lengths to find the equaliser, but Ramazani's driving runs and some failed counter-attacks by UD Almeria were enough to claim victory, although a 95-minute last-grasp by Girona FC levelled matters. That goal was chalked off following a clear foul on the keeper. The Rojiblancos celebrated a hard-fought victory as they moved further clear of the bottom three and leap up 5 places into the LaLiga Santander table.