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La Liga Preview: Recreativo Huelva - Almeria
Almeria will be looking to avoid being overtaken by Recreativo as the two sides clash on Sunday...
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Feb 21, 2009 4:29:49 AM
Kick-Off: Sunday February 22, 17:00 CET, Estadio Nuevo Colombino, Huelva
Recreativo de Huelva will be hoping to create further space between themselves and the bottom three as they play host to Almeria on Sunday.
Breaking Free
The fact that Recreativo are still alive in the top flight, despite only winning one of their first 14 games (the first one), is a major surprise. That they are not even in the bottom three is an impressive achievement, given the hopeless position they found themselves in with nearly half the season gone. Indeed, that horrific start should ensure that there is no complacency at the Colombino, as they seek to increase break free of the relegation dogfight.
Sitting in 16th place with 25 points, Recre are currently just four points away from Mallorca in 18th. It will only take a few poor results to drop them right back into the mire, meaning that there is still a fair amount of work to be done before they can consider themselves safe. On the other hand, a win at the weekend could propel them as high 12th place, depending on other results.
If they are to make any significant progress, however, they will have to improve on their paltry scoring record. With just 20 goals, Recre, along with Espanyol, have scored the least goals in the top flight, which is usually a recipe for relegation. Espanyol already look doomed, and Recre will have to start finding the back of the net if they are to avoid joining them in La Segunda next year.
Goals Galore
Few clubs around the world have endured as much of a proverbial roller-coaster ride in recent weeks as Almeria. Their last three matches have all ended in 3-2 results. Unfortunately, they were on the receiving end of the first two, although last week's comeback win against Valladolid would have felt sweet, after Malaga subjected them to exactly the same punishment a week earlier.
Despite all the entertainment they have provided in recent weeks, Almeria are still far from safe. The six point buffer that they currently enjoyed is still dangerous territory, and Hugo Sanchez's men can ill afford any slip-ups. In their favour, however, is the fact that the teams below them, including Recre, are yet to display any semblance of consistency.
One way for Almeria to ensure safety is to start winning away from home. They have only tasted success on the road once this season, with just two draws to complement that win. A win at the Colombino could just be the tonic that their finish to the season needs.
FORM GUIDE
Recreativo Huelva
DREW 1-1 (A) Athletic Bilbao (La Liga Matchday 23, February 15)
LOST 3-0 (H) Atletico Madrid (La Liga Matchday 22, February 08)
DREW 1-1 (A) Espanyol (La Liga Matchday 21, February 01)
WON 1-0 (H) Real Betis (La Liga Matchday 20, January 25)
WON 2-0 (H) Sporting Gijon (La Liga Matchday 19, January 18)
Almeria
WON 3-2 (H) Real Valladolid (La Liga Matchday 23, February 15)
LOST 3-2 (A) Malaga (La Liga Matchday 22, February 08)
LOST 3-2 (A) Valencia (La Liga Matchday 21, February 01)
WON 2-1 (H) Athletic Bilbao (La Liga Matchday 20, January 25)
DREW 1-1 (H) Atletico Madrid (La Liga Matchday 19, January 18)
TEAM NEWS
Recreativo Huelva
Beto, Cesar Arzo and Sisi are unavailable.
Probable Starting XI - Riesgo - Bouzon, Casado, Morris, Poli - Vazquez, Barber, Nayar, Aitor, Camunas - Colunga
Almeria
Hugo Sanchez will be without Bruno, Mane, Ikechukwu Uche and Julio Alvarez.
Probable Starting XI - Alves - Garcia, Acasiete, Pellerano, Chico - Juanito, Iriney, Crusat, Juanma Ortiz - Piatti, Negredo
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Recreativo Huelva - With Adrian Colunga being the only striker at the club seemingly capable of scoring goals, Recre will have to rely on Camunas to provide more from midfield. He is the club's second highest scorer with just three, and he will surely need to increase that tally if Recre are to enjoy a trouble free campaign from this point on.
Almeria - With 12 goals already, Alvaro Negredo is yet again showing just why he is one of Spain's hottest properties. The ex Real Madrid youth team player has come alive in Almeria's colours, scoring plenty of spectacular goals. The only problem for hi side is that the more he scores, the more likely he is to leave for more lucrative pastures in the summer.
PREDICTION
Almeria have the better side, as is reflected by their league position, but their away record is among the worst in the division, rendering a potential win here highly unlikely. Recre's presence as the opposition means it is unlikely to be another five goal thriller, but the home side should just edge this one.
Recreativo Huelva 1-0 Almeria
Arjun Miglani, Goal.com
Recreativo de Huelva will be hoping to create further space between themselves and the bottom three as they play host to Almeria on Sunday.
Breaking Free
The fact that Recreativo are still alive in the top flight, despite only winning one of their first 14 games (the first one), is a major surprise. That they are not even in the bottom three is an impressive achievement, given the hopeless position they found themselves in with nearly half the season gone. Indeed, that horrific start should ensure that there is no complacency at the Colombino, as they seek to increase break free of the relegation dogfight.
Sitting in 16th place with 25 points, Recre are currently just four points away from Mallorca in 18th. It will only take a few poor results to drop them right back into the mire, meaning that there is still a fair amount of work to be done before they can consider themselves safe. On the other hand, a win at the weekend could propel them as high 12th place, depending on other results.
If they are to make any significant progress, however, they will have to improve on their paltry scoring record. With just 20 goals, Recre, along with Espanyol, have scored the least goals in the top flight, which is usually a recipe for relegation. Espanyol already look doomed, and Recre will have to start finding the back of the net if they are to avoid joining them in La Segunda next year.
Goals Galore
Few clubs around the world have endured as much of a proverbial roller-coaster ride in recent weeks as Almeria. Their last three matches have all ended in 3-2 results. Unfortunately, they were on the receiving end of the first two, although last week's comeback win against Valladolid would have felt sweet, after Malaga subjected them to exactly the same punishment a week earlier.
Despite all the entertainment they have provided in recent weeks, Almeria are still far from safe. The six point buffer that they currently enjoyed is still dangerous territory, and Hugo Sanchez's men can ill afford any slip-ups. In their favour, however, is the fact that the teams below them, including Recre, are yet to display any semblance of consistency.
One way for Almeria to ensure safety is to start winning away from home. They have only tasted success on the road once this season, with just two draws to complement that win. A win at the Colombino could just be the tonic that their finish to the season needs.
FORM GUIDE
Recreativo Huelva
DREW 1-1 (A) Athletic Bilbao (La Liga Matchday 23, February 15)
LOST 3-0 (H) Atletico Madrid (La Liga Matchday 22, February 08)
DREW 1-1 (A) Espanyol (La Liga Matchday 21, February 01)
WON 1-0 (H) Real Betis (La Liga Matchday 20, January 25)
WON 2-0 (H) Sporting Gijon (La Liga Matchday 19, January 18)
Almeria
WON 3-2 (H) Real Valladolid (La Liga Matchday 23, February 15)
LOST 3-2 (A) Malaga (La Liga Matchday 22, February 08)
LOST 3-2 (A) Valencia (La Liga Matchday 21, February 01)
WON 2-1 (H) Athletic Bilbao (La Liga Matchday 20, January 25)
DREW 1-1 (H) Atletico Madrid (La Liga Matchday 19, January 18)
TEAM NEWS
Recreativo Huelva
Beto, Cesar Arzo and Sisi are unavailable.
Probable Starting XI - Riesgo - Bouzon, Casado, Morris, Poli - Vazquez, Barber, Nayar, Aitor, Camunas - Colunga
Almeria
Hugo Sanchez will be without Bruno, Mane, Ikechukwu Uche and Julio Alvarez.
Probable Starting XI - Alves - Garcia, Acasiete, Pellerano, Chico - Juanito, Iriney, Crusat, Juanma Ortiz - Piatti, Negredo
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Recreativo Huelva - With Adrian Colunga being the only striker at the club seemingly capable of scoring goals, Recre will have to rely on Camunas to provide more from midfield. He is the club's second highest scorer with just three, and he will surely need to increase that tally if Recre are to enjoy a trouble free campaign from this point on.
Almeria - With 12 goals already, Alvaro Negredo is yet again showing just why he is one of Spain's hottest properties. The ex Real Madrid youth team player has come alive in Almeria's colours, scoring plenty of spectacular goals. The only problem for hi side is that the more he scores, the more likely he is to leave for more lucrative pastures in the summer.
PREDICTION
Almeria have the better side, as is reflected by their league position, but their away record is among the worst in the division, rendering a potential win here highly unlikely. Recre's presence as the opposition means it is unlikely to be another five goal thriller, but the home side should just edge this one.
Recreativo Huelva 1-0 Almeria
Arjun Miglani, Goal.com
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