Nelson returns but Soko to miss out due to AFCON duty
The Portuguese centre-back is available again, while Cameroonian striker heads to Morocco for international duty
UD Almería will welcome back centre-back Nelson Monte for their final match of 2025 after serving a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation. The Portuguese defender will rejoin the squad alongside Chumi and Léo Baptistão, who were also included in the line-up for the recent fixture against Burgos CF.
However, the Rojiblancos will be without Cameroonian striker Soko, who is set to join his national team for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. His departure adds to an already lengthy injury list for the club.
Nico Melamed and Federico Bonini are currently sidelined with muscle injuries, with Melamed recovering from a right quadriceps injury and Bonini dealing with a right hamstring issue. Both players are expected to be unavailable for the remainder of 2025, with Melamed potentially returning after the Christmas break. Soko’s recovery is projected to keep him out until late January or early February.
As for his AFCON commitments, Soko will represent Cameroon in group-stage matches against Gabon (24 December), Ivory Coast (28 December) and Mozambique (31 December). With no LaLiga Hypermotion fixtures during these dates, the striker could be available for UD Almería’s first match of 2026 if Cameroon are eliminated early. Should they advance to the round of 16, Soko's return would be delayed until January.