LA Liga fanatic Carl jones (@CJBettingPro) takes a look at Friday night’s Spanish offering featuring David Moyes’ Real Sociedad and Almeria.
Almeria v Real Sociedad | Friday 19.45
David Moyes is on the road again with a trip to Almeria’s Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos on the agenda, in what is a very important game for both sides. Almeria are three points clear of the relegation zone, sitting in 16th.
Having lost four games on the spin, the hosts have bounced back with successive wins against Cordoba and Getafe but their home record is of grave concern.
The Rojiblancos are rock bottom of the home table with just one win from 10. The only positive they can probably take is, that sole victory came recently against Getafe, as mentioned.
Goals are a struggle for Juan Ignacio Martinez’s men in front of their home fans, having scored just seven in those 10. Tommer Hemed is their current top goalscorer with six and might fancy himself in the air against Sociedad’s rickety defence, having returned from suspension.
The Basque visitors are 12th in the league and really need to put some more points on the table before they find themselves back in a relegation battle. Moyes’ charges have W3-D4-L3 in their last 10, which basically tells you they are hit-and-miss at the moment.
That record reduces to just one victory in five, against out-of-form Eibar. La Real’s away record makes even worse reading. They’re yet to win on the road, drawing five and losing five whilst netting just six goals in those 10 fixtures. Ouch.
Surprisingly, looking at the head-to-head stats it actually shows goals are to be had. Six of the last seven clashes have featured Over 2.5 Goals, with the other seeing exactly two goals plundered.
Almeria have the upper hand in the head-to-head battle (W4-D1-L2) with their two defeats both coming at the Anoeta. Back in March, the hosts came out on top in a classic encounter 4-3 against Sociedad with a 91st minute winner.
With Hemed back in the ranks, the hosts can boast an almost fully fit squad with Ruben Martinez and Jonathan Zongo their only concerns. But Moyes’ visitors are without key forward Carlos Vela and Carlos Martinez, two big blows.
It’s a tough game to call but I’m giving home advantage the nod. Almeria have a great record at home to Sociedad and with the Basques winless in 14 on their travels, I’m confidant the Rojiblancos will get something from this clash.
I’m going to play it safe though and snap up the 17/20 from Sportingbet on Almeria in the Draw No Bet, giving me a little security against the possible draw. The price has already contracted in the past 48 hours and I think there’ll be more support for the Andalusian team before kick-off.
Best Bets
Almeria v Real Sociedad – Almeria draw no bet (17/20 Sportingbet)
Your View
Is Carl right to side with Almeria? Could David Moyes' side be heading for a relegation battle?
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