Atletico Madrid will be bidding to bounce back from their defeat to Barcelona when they resume their La Liga campaign away to Almeria on Sunday afternoon.
Diego Simeone's side are currently fifth in the table, boasting 27 points from their opening 16 matches, while Almeria are 14th, having collected 17 points from their first 16 games of the 2022-23 season.
Match preview
© Reuters
Almeria secured a return to La Liga by winning the Segunda Division title last term, and they are back at this level for the first time since 2014-15, which ended in relegation courtesy of a 19th-place finish.
La Union have won five, drawn two and lost nine of their 16 league matches this season to collect 17 points, which has left them in 14th position in the table, two points outside of the relegation zone.
Rubi's side are likely to be in touching distance of the bottom three for much of the campaign, but the team have shown this season that they are capable of competing at this level of football.
Almeria were knocked out of the Copa del Rey in the middle of November, so their last two matches have been in the league, drawing away to Cadiz before losing at home to Real Sociedad last weekend.
Rojiblancos have not faced Atletico in La Liga since February 2015, suffering a 3-0 loss to the capital outfit, but they did beat Simeone's team at home in February 2014.
© Reuters
Atletico, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Barcelona in La Liga, which left them in fifth position in the table, one point behind fourth-placed Real Betis.
The Red and Whites are not in a title race this season, with 14 points separating them from leaders Barcelona, while they are only three points clear of eighth-placed Osasuna.
Atletico are still in the Copa del Rey, with the Madrid giants set to take on Levante in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey on January 18, but they have no European football in the second half of the campaign, having finished bottom of their Champions League group.
There is currently widespread speculation surrounding the future of Simeone, with a recent report claiming that the Argentine is preparing to leave the club at the end of the campaign.
Atletico have the fourth-best away record in the league this season, picking up 16 points from eight matches, which is in contrast to their poor home form, only managing 11 points in eight matches at Wanda Metropolitano.
A top-four finish will be the minimum requirement for the team in the league this season, but that is not guaranteed due to the quality of the teams around them.
Team News
© Reuters
Almeria could again be without the services of Ivan Martos due to a knee problem, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape ahead of this contest.
Head coach Rubi is expected to make changes from the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Real Sociedad, with Alejandro Pozo potentially coming in at right-back.
Samu Costa could also feature in the starting side, while Leo Baptistao is expected to be introduced in the final third, potentially replacing Luis Suarez.
As for Atletico, Stefan Savic will miss the match through suspension following his red card against Barcelona last time out.
Yannick Carrasco is also missing due to a muscular problem, while Mario Hermoso is a fitness doubt, so Axel Witsel could start in the middle of the defence for the visitors.
Joao Felix has now joined Chelsea on loan, which will open the door for Alvaro Morata to feature in the final third alongside Antoine Griezmann.
Rodrigo De Paul could also come into the starting side, while Thomas Lemar is pushing to feature in the XI.
Almeria possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Pozo, Chumi, Babic, Akieme; Melero, Costa; Baptistao, Robertone, Ramazani; Toure
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Reinildo, Witsel, Gimenez; Llorente, De Paul, Barrios, Koke, Lemar; Morata, Griezmann
We say: Almeria 1-2 Atletico Madrid
Atletico have been impressive on their travels this season, and we are expecting the capital outfit to triumph here. Almeria have actually won five of their eight home league games this term, which is the same as Real Madrid at Bernabeu, but we have a feeling that Atletico will secure all three points in this match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
