1-1: Important pre-season test for UD Almería against Al-Sadd SC

UD Almería had an important test in their fourth pre-season match against Qatari side Al-Sadd SC, opponents to take into account and against whom Rubi's boys showed that they continue to grow in this period of preparations for the LaLiga Hypermotion. It was a good match in which the Rojiblancos did an excellent job, although logically there are aspects to improve. It was all square after  90 minutes. UD Almería took the lead through Léo Baptistão in the first half. Al-Sadd SC tied in the second with an inch-perfect sensational strike from about 38 yards, Fernando saved a penalty, and both Luis Suárez and Melero had clear chances to tip the balance. Next Thursday, at 9:30am, the last training camp friendly in La Quinta will be played against Algeciras CF and then putting an end to the boot camp and returning to Almería city. 

Rubi picked out a different starting XI with Melamed being a starter again as well as Lopy, Melero, Léo Baptistão and Luis Suárez, who came on in the second half against Málaga CF. Fernando, Pozo, Kaiky, César Montes, Bruno Langa and Baba made their debut over the weekend as they did not get minutes last Saturday. UD Almería put in a commanding first-hand display against Qatar side Al-Sadd SC, with considerable potential and quality footballers. In fact, Rubi's team had more of the ball, took the initiatpive and bossed the match. In defence, they were solid. In the midfield, they did a good job and up front they tried, although without creating as many surprising attacks as in other pre-season games. 

Léo Baptistão, in the 40th minute, opened the scoring 1-0 after a well-timed delivery from Luis Suárez who had leaned to the right so that the Brazilian entered the box through the centre. The Colombian was about to score the 13 minutes in after a brilliant assist from Melero, but his shot went into the side of the net.

Rubi gave continuity to the starting XI and did not begin to make substitutions until halfway through the second half, although like on the previous day, the gaffer did not change all the players to let them clock up more minutes in their legs. It was a period with alternate dominance, although UD Almería knew how to control the situation by being safe in their own half, passing the ball successfully and creating more danger than during the first forty-five minutes. 

In the 61st minute, Melero wasted a clear sight of goal, but the Qatari goalkeeper denied and his save flew into the corner. SC Al-Sadd level things up inside 64 minutes; It was a scorcher by Paulo Octavio from about 38 yards that went all over the corner. Melero regretted another opportunity in the 65th minute and in the 71st minute, Fernando saved a penalty committed by Pozo on Akram. Both sides went back and forth up the pitch, with UD Almeria doing a good job, both physically and football-wise. 

Match information

UD Almería: Fernando; Pozo, Kaiky, César Montes (René, 77'), Bruno Langa; Baba (Marcos Peña, 77'), Lopy (Robertone, minute 84); Léo Baptistão (Ramazani, 77'), Melero (Gui Guedes, 66'), Nico Melamed (Valen, 66') and Luis Suárez (Koné, 84'). 

Al-Sadd SC: Saad; Pedro, Musab, Tareq, Paulo Octavio; Waldo, Guilherme; Gonzalo Plata, Ali Asad, Ali Hashim and Rafa Mujica. Yousuf, Akram, Mustafa, Khoukhi, Saiss, Ahmed Sayyar, Yusuf and Gio also played.

Referee: Ignacio De Santisteban Adame, from the Andalusian Referees association (Seville). He booked Ramazani and Marcos Peña, from UD Almería, as well as Waad from SC Al-Sadd. 

Goals: 1-0 (40'). Léo Baptistão enters the box, receives a good cross from Luis Suárez and beats the SC Al-Sadd goalkeeper. 

Observations: Fourth pre-season friendly match for UD Almería that was played on the pitch of the La Quinta, where the Rojiblancos train during their training camp in this complex located between the towns of Marbella and Benahavís. The UD Almería team played wearing their away kit, dark green. Javi Gracia, former UD Almería and SC Al-Sadd head coach, was following the match.