Of the three teams newly promoted to the Primera Division of La Liga, Union Deportiva Almeria is the one best placed to put up a good fight in the top-flight.
Each of the promoted teams needs a decent set of La Liga 2022 results early in the campaign to steer clear of the relegation mire. Last season, Espanyol was the club which shone on its return to the elite league, happily sitting in mid table for much of the campaign, and the pre-season La Liga 2022 betting odds reckon Almeria should do okay this time around.
Founded as recently as 1989, the Andalusian club made a rapid rise through the ranks and first appeared in the top division in 2007, managed at the time by current Villarreal boss Unai Emery. They stayed in the top-flight for four seasons and then bounced between Primera and Segunda for a while before exiting the premier league in 2015.
After a seven-year stay in the second tier, quite often in the bottom half, Almeria began to challenge again at the top. And following a fourth place finish in 2021, head coach Rubi led them to the promise land in his first full season in charge with a first place.
And now, the 15,000-seat capacity Estadio de los Jueqos Mediterraneos will once again see the best players in the Spanish league strut their stuff.
Almeria begin their first campaign in the top-flight for seven years with a mouthwatering opening day clash against champions Real Madrid. And while the eyes of the world will be on Los Blancos as they begin their title defence, the Almeria fans will be hoping for an open day upset.
The battle for supremacy at the top of La Liga will be contested once again by the two Madrid clubs and Barcelona, with a chasing pack of teams like Sevilla and Real Sociedad making it a competitive race.
But the rest of the league is made up of teams hoping to extend their stay in the top-flight and hand out the odd bloody nose to the biggest teams.
Almeria’s 25-year-old hitman Umar Sadiq could be a player to watch. He has the ability to hurt any defence, scoring an impressive 38 goals in 76 games since joining the club on a five year contract in 2020, and the Nigerian international looks like he has the pace and ability to step up a league.
Here at SBOTOP, we’ll be reporting back on the first round of fixtures due to start on 12th August and the Almeria vs Real Madrid clash is the one we’re most looking forward to.
Last season, Levante dropped to the second tier after a five-year stay in the top-flight and they were joined by Alaves, who dropped out after six seasons in the elite, while Granada returned to the Segunda Division after a three-year run in the Primera.
And they were replaced by Real Valladolid, who finished second and were mathematically promoted, and Girona who earned promotion after beating Tenerife in a play-off.
Captain and Uruguay international Cristhian Stuani was on target for Girona as they returned to the top-flight after a three-year absence. The former Espanyol star was devastated when Girona were relegated in only their second season in the Primera Division and it has been a long and hard road back.
Stuani was 31 when he arrived at Girona in 2017 and he described it as “love at first sight”. Now 35, he is ready for another shot in the top-flight and, with 101 goals in 163 appearances, the love affair looks set to continue.
Real Valladolid head coach Pacheta swapped one relegated team for another 12 months ago when he resigned as boss of SD Huesca and took over at Valladolid. And he backed the right horse as his new club was promoted while his former employers finished in 13th place. Valladolid finished tied on 81 points with Almeria, and a point clear of third place Eibar.
Skippered by goalkeeper Jordi Masip, there is plenty of experience in the side with 33-year-old Sergio Leon leading the line in attack and former Sevilla star Roque Mesa patrolling the middle of the park.
There is a case to be made for all three of the newly-promoted teams. Valladolid and Girona have more recent experience in the top-flight, but I like the look of Almeria who have the firepower to win games at the very best level.
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