UD Almería got their 2026/27 campaign off to a winning start after passing their first league test with flying colours. The Rojiblancos showed organisation, balance and clear foundations of what they want to develop as the season progresses. The coaching from the touchline was excellent, while the players demonstrated that the overall idea fits their individual profiles like a glove.

ORGANISATION. It almost feels as though UD Almería’s different lines are tied together by a piece of string. The rope has its limits. It cannot be too long or too short; avoiding spaces for the opposition to exploit is just as important as allowing enough fluidity to build the play. Head coach García Pimienta is creating an environment in which the team’s strengths can be maximised and its weaknesses concealed. Establishing a solid block is one of the keys to ensuring the team are difficult to break down, so that whatever the opposition creates becomes a strength for UD Almería rather than a gift from their opponents.

THE BALL. Possession can serve countless purposes and, in UD Almería’s case, it was used as a working tool. Against CD Eldense, the aim was to build through a succession of passes without dwelling on the ball. In very few passages of the match did Pimienta’s players take 3 or 4 touches; most of the time, they took no more than two. Control and pass. The player in possession often had at least two options to combine with and when the right moment arrived, the team accelerated and broke through the lines. That is how UD Almería worked their way towards Vilá’s goal while, whenever possession was lost, ensuring they were well protected and able to slow CD Eldense’s play.

TEMPO. Playing at a constantly high tempo regardless of the scoreline is a risk that needs to be managed. Sometimes, slowing the game down is what allows a team to accelerate. Last weekend, UD Almería adjusted the speed of the match perfectly according to the circumstances. The players understood what each phase of the game demanded. Guedes and Dzódic were excellent at controlling the rhythm in the engine room of midfield, while their team-mates also knew when to invite their adversaries forward in order to attack the space behind them. For most of the match, the overwhelming feeling was that the game was being played on UD Almería’s terms, something the head coach had already highlighted in his pre-match comments as one of the key factors.

FREEDOM. The team’s attacking and defensive mechanisms are beginning to take shape and will continue to grow with every game. However, structure also coexists with freedom and the quality within the squad was evident in Cipenga’s freedom down the left flank, Arribas’ driving runs and Embarba’s contribution. Stefan Dzódic also showed plenty of movement in the central areas, constantly looking to press and win the ball back. Miguel de la Fuente, the main attacking reference, frequently left the penalty area to provide support and lay-offs, creating numerical advantages for his team-mates.

GAME PLAN. One constant in recent seasons, with league campaigns starting in mid-August, has been the significant physical drop-off teams experience after the hour mark. Cipenga’s introduction in the second half had a double effect: it restored the attacking depth UD Almería had lost after the restart and disrupted any reaction CD Eldense might have been preparing after the interval. The Congolese winger was bold and threatening down that flank, creating a chance that De la Fuente came close to converting and then winning the penalty for the striker. Head coach García Pimienta deployed one of the most explosive players in his squad at precisely the right moment.

THE FANS. Monday night, August and unbearable heat. The disappointment of those play-offs was still fresh, with an entire season lying ahead. Perhaps the circumstances encouraged some supporters to wait and see how this ship would navigate its course before deciding whether to climb aboard. Yet almost 16,000 spectators turned up at the UD Almería Stadium and made their presence felt. Just a few days earlier, 1,500 people had attended the presentation of the 6 new summer signings. It was a clear statement of intent: the page is blank and there is a real desire to write a golden chapter in this logbook.