1-4: UD Almería top LaLiga Hypermotion after win over Racing de Ferrol

UD Almería won big against Racing de Ferrol to top the LaLiga Hypermotion table and extend their scintillating unbeaten streak to 11 games with 9 victories and 2 draws. They will have to wait for Racing de Santander's result on Thursday to make sure they will be Segunda leaders over the Christmas break. Rubi's men outclassed their opponents in the opening half with control of the ball and in the second with lethal counter-attacks. Luis Suárez grabbed a superb hat-trick to become again the Segunda division top scorer and Arribas   slotted home another one to seal a spectacular victory in Galicia.

 

Rubi made 4 changes to the squad that took on CD Mirandés last Friday with new additions: Maximiano, in goal due to Fernando's muscle discomfort; Kaiky covering suspended Chumi as a centre-back; Centelles, who operated as a left-back, and Pozo who played ahead of Marc Pubill on the right flank. Furthermore, Léo Baptistão was placed in the midfield while Luis Suárez and Arribas linked up front. The Brazilian's injury after 12 minutes and Nico Melamed coming on in his place changed the pattern. In fact, Sergio Arribas returned to play as a second striker behind Luis Suárez and the Catalan went to the left.

 

UD Almería were the clear dominators in the opening forty-five minutes. They enjoyed possession, control and initiative, although they had issues creating big chances, even though they reached the final third quite often. Rubi already warned it in the pre-Ferrol presser that they do not make it easy at all and this was noticed by the Rojiblancos, who also had to be on alert due to the quick transitions of the Galicians. Be that as it may, the Indálicos had the situation under control and showed themselves superior, although without fanfare. There was one thing missing...showing the attacking potential to make a difference, and Luis Suárez did it in the 33rd minute with an absolute humdinger of a goal. It was 0-1 at half-time. 

 

If the Colombian scored a spectacular goal, as soon as the second half kicked off, Gelardo also did so to level things up with a rocket from outside the box that sneaked into the entire squad, surprising the guests from the South coast. The Rojiblancos let the leveller in and it was 1-1 with 47 minutes on the clock. The Indálicos were solid despite the pouring rain and great intensity of the 'Departamentales', had the capacity to break the deadlock and Luis Suárez, in the 50th minute, once again put the Rojiblancos ahead by converting from 12 yards (1-2) with many minutes left and with a deluge that would not favour the game at all.

 

However, UD Almería were slick and if during the first period they were comfortable with the ball, in the second they had to counter-attack, making the most  of the spaces that Racing de Ferrol left in their quest to share the spoils. After 54 minutes, Rubi's side were able to extend their lead and make it 1-3 when Arribas produced a piece of magic after a well-timed cross from peer Luis Suárez. The in-form Colombian, in another counter-attack, put the fourth past the keeper to come back down south with three points in their suitcase and fire his team to the top of the LaLiga Hypermotion table.