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Match Reports

1-0: UD Almería regain automatic promotion spot to Primera

The Rojiblancos snatch the second place from guests CD Mirandés with grit, determination and togetherness but also suffering. It has been two months without losing, unbeaten in 10 league fixtures. Léo Baptistão scores the only goal

UD Almería regained the automatic spot to the Primera division of Spanish football after snatching second place in the standings from rivals CD Mirandés by winning 1-0. The Rojiblancos have made a massive turnaround in 2024 to get back in contention for automatic promotion this season. An early goal courtesy from Léo Baptistao gave them the victory in a brilliant and very well-worked first half, as in the second period, although in this one they had to suffer a bit to grab these three massive points. It has been two months without losing and Rubi's side has been unbeaten in 10 games. On Matchday 19, they kept a clean sheet and only one goal to win. 
 
Rubi opted for starting XI similar to last Sunday's squad that shared the spoils with Málaga CF, with the additions of Melero in the double pivot with Lopy, where he was placed at La Rosaleda Stadium when he replaced injured Gui Guedes, and Léo Baptistão, who operated on the left wing. 
 
UD Almería made sensible decisions from the off and after Sergio Arribas squandered a big chance in the 5th minute, shortly after, in the 7th, Baptistão opened the scoring 1-0 by firing a rebound within the box after an explosive shot by Bruno Langa.
 
The Rojiblancos had very quickly managed to beat the team who have conceded the fewest goals in the Segunda division, and this was already a great achievement, especially when the Indálico outfit, with excellent teamwork and fluidity in their game, continued to insist to reach the 'Jabato' team's goal again and again.
 
With 11 minutes on the clock, the visitor goalkeeper excelled to parry away a powerful strike booted by Sergio Arribas after a well-timed cross from Langa. In the 29th minute, the Madrid native put it on a plate for striker Luis Suárez, who managed to leap beyond his marker and the goalie on his way out, but was left without an angle to have scored the second goal. Marc Pubill, inside 45 minutes, also put the Miranda de Ebro keeper's reflexes to the test. 
 
It was, in short, an excellent opening half for a UD Almería squad that did a great job because they knew how to keep their fearsome rivals at bay, who practically did not cause any concern and if they did, Fernando and the defence defended well. Furthermore, Mirandés were outplayed in the midfield and then in attack both in the centre with an active Arribas and on the wings, Pubill-Arnau, on the right, and tandem Langa-Baptistão, on the left, engineered opportunities because regardless of the rued missed chances commented, there was more sense of danger, although these collective plays had not been completed. UD Almería had a sense of anticipation and won many balls back, which left them practically without options.
 
It was a game of two halves. In the second half things were different, although a few minutes after the restart, UD Almería put together a great attacking play that ended in a corner and served to demonstrate, once again, the quality and offensive potential of the team led by Rubi. In the 55th minute, a penalty against the player was chalked off by the VAR, but everyone was in shock because CD Mirandés took control of the ball as the minutes passed. After a spell with end-to-end activity, possession began to last very little for the hosts and the guests from Castile y León made their presence felt in the final third looking to beat Fernando. UD Almería knew how to suffer until the final whistle, whose noise was a relief... It sparked euphoria. It was no wonder.
Once inicial del Almería
Arnau Puigmal generó peligro por la banda derecha donde se está consolidando
Arribas volvió a hacer un brillante partido
Melero juega el balón
Luis Suárez lo dio todo en busca del gol
Bruno Langa junto con Leo Baptistao se mostraron incisivos por la izquierda
El Almería hizo un gran trabajo en defensa y mantuvo la portería a cero
Match summary
UD Almería
UD Almería
LALIGA HYPERMOTION · M19
1
-
0
UD Almería Stadium
CD Mirandés
CD Mirandés
Line-ups
Fernando C.s. photo
13Fernando C.s.
Raúl Fernández photo
13Raúl Fernández
Edgar photo
03Edgar
H. Rincón photo
02H. Rincón75
Marc Pubill photo
18Marc Pubill
04Egiluz
Chumi photo
21Chumi
Tomeo photo
15Tomeo84
Bruno Langa photo
24Bruno Langa88
Juan G. photo
22Juan G.
Arnau photo
02Arnau63
V. Parada photo
33V. Parada
Lopy photo
06Lopy
Gorrotxa photo
06Gorrotxa
Melero photo
08Melero88
08Homenchenko68
Arribas photo
11Arribas73
A. Reina photo
10A. Reina
L. Baptistao photo
12L. Baptistao73
Panichelli photo
09Panichelli
L. Suárez photo
09L. Suárez
Joel Roca photo
27Joel Roca
Substitutes
Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia
Alessio Lisci
Maximiano photo
01Maximiano
Luis López photo
01Luis López
Bruno Iribarne photo
31Bruno Iribarne
J. Alonso photo
03J. Alonso75
Kaiky photo
04Kaiky
Tachi photo
05Tachi
Radovanovic photo
16Radovanovic88
Lachuer photo
19Lachuer
Alex Pozo photo
17Alex Pozo63
Alex Calvo photo
11Alex Calvo
Centelles photo
20Centelles73
Izeta photo
17Izeta68
Nico Mr photo
10Nico Mr73
A, Martín photo
20A, Martín84
Quintanilla photo
34Quintanilla88
Dadie photo
28Dadie
Perovic photo
36Perovic
Marezi photo
19Marezi
Rachad photo
28Rachad
Goals
L. Baptistao
6
(1 - 0)
Match officials
Saúl Ais Reig
Referee
Rubén Campo Hernández
Lineman#1
David Cantón Vitoria
Lineman#2
Álvaro Cánovas García Villarrubia
Fourth official
David Gálvez Rascón
Video Assistant Referee
Carlos Muñiz Muñoz
Assistant VAR Official