4-4: A rollercoaster of emotions: UD Almería's thrilling draw with Albacete BP
Goals galore, defensive woes and late drama mark a wild LaLiga Hypermotion season opener. Game of momentum swings
UD Almería’s curtain-raiser against Albacete Balompié turned into a rollercoaster of emotions as the teams shared 8 goals and 113 minutes of intense football. The Rojiblancos showed resilience and flair, but defensive lapses ultimately meant they were forced to settle for a 4-4 draw despite scoring 4 goals in an electrifying encounter.
Rubi fielded a familiar starting XI, mixing continuity with fresh faces. 7 players from last season's squad retained their spots, alongside 3 new summer signings and one returning loanee. Andrés Fernández started in goal, with Marcos Luna, Chumi, Alex Muñoz, and Centelles forming the defensive line. In midfield, Lopy and Selvi were tasked with controlling the tempo, while Baptistao, Arribas and Embarba led the attack. Lázaro Vinicius took his place as the focal point of the front line, wearing the No. 9.
Early setback and stunning response. The match could not have started worse for UD Almería. Just 50 seconds into the game, Albacete BP took a shocking 1-0 lead, with a near second goal following soon after. However, UD Almería responded in spectacular fashion. In the 10th minute, Adrián Embarba scored a thunderous free-kick from nearly 40 yards out, catching the Albacete keeper off guard and leveling the score.
From that point on, the Rojiblancos took control of the match, dominating possession and creating multiple chances. As the first half unfolded, they showed flashes of brilliance, with Baptistao and Arribas coming close to putting their side ahead. Despite their pressure, they went into the break tied 1-1.
It was a game of momentum swings. Rubi made a change at the start of the second half, replacing Marcos Luna with Chirino, and UD Almería quickly capitalised. In the 51st minute, Lopy fired home a powerful shot from the edge of the box after being set up by Embarba, putting the Rojiblancos 2-1 up.
But the match swung wildly in the following minutes. A quickfire double from El Alba in the 56th and 57th minutes put them back ahead 3-2, leaving UD Almería reeling. Yet, the hosts refused to be outdone, with Sergio Arribas converting a penalty in the 81st minute to make it 3-3 and bring hope back to the excited fans.
Late drama. Just when it seemed the Indálicos might edge ahead, disaster struck again. Albacete BP regained the lead 4-3 inside 82 minutes through another penalty, putting UD Almería’s chances of securing all 3 points in jeopardy. However, the drama was far from over.
In the 100th minute, with 13 minutes of added time being played, UD Almería had one final push. Lopy launched a long ball to substitute Arnau, who cleverly crossed it into the box. Baptistao, who had been a constant threat throughout the full 90 minutes, latched onto the pass and scored his long-awaited goal, securing a 4-4 draw and ensuring the Rojiblancos would leave with a point.
The match highlighted both the attacking quality and defensive fragility that UD Almería will need to address moving forward. Rubi's side showed moments of brilliance in their build-up play and finishing, but defensive lapses and unmarked runners on the wings led to costly goals. Despite this, the fighting spirit and determination shown by the Rojiblancos were evident and the UDA fans will hope that this thrilling curtain-raiser is just the beginning of a promising 2025/26 season.
