Match Pack: UD Almería vs Athletic Club (LaLiga MD30)

Thanks to a four-match unbeaten run in LaLiga, which has included recent back-to-back wins, Athletic Club are almost within touching distance of the European spots.

This Saturday, the Zurigorri head to the Power Horse Stadium where they take on a UD Almería side fighting to avoid relegation in their first season back in the top flight.

With just nine matches remaining, we're now into the final stretch of the 2022/23 campaign. The stakes are high, every match is crucial, and every point counts.

Match Info
UD Almería vs Athletic Club

Power Horse Stadium (Almería)

LaLiga Santander 22/23 (Matchday 30)

Saturday April 22, 16:15 CEST

How to Watch
Check out our global TV guide to make sure you don't miss the match, no matter where you are in the world

Team News
Valverde has named a 22-man squad for the clash

Iñigo Lekue, Jon Morcillo and Iker Muniain will miss the clash as they recover from their respective injuries. Dani García is serving a one-match after accumulating five yellow cards.

Valverde's Comments
Catch up with everything the gaffer had to say ahead of the clash

The Opponents

Head coach: Rubi

The Catalan coach took over at Almería in April last season with just six matches to go. He led the side to 1st place and automatic promotion back to LaLiga Santander.

The 53-year-old has extensive experience working across several tiers of Spanish football. After managing in the lower divisions, his first job in one of the top two leagues came at Girona in 2012. Since then he has also been in charge at Valladolid, Levante, Sporting Gijon, Huesca, Espanyol and Real Betis.

Top goalscorer: El Bilal Touré

The 21-year-old Malian striker joined Almería from French side Stade Reims in the summer and has proved to be something of a revelation. So far this season he has scored six goals in 19 LaLiga appearances, while providing two assists.

Recent form (LaLiga): LDDWL

Rubi's outfit have a solid home record with eight wins, two draws and five losses, but they are yet to win on the road. The only have one victory in the last five fixtures, which came over fellow relegation battlers Valencia CF.

Previous Meetings
As Almería were founded in 1989, and reached the top division for the first time in 2007/08, the two clubs have only faced each other 13 times in LaLiga. The Lions have recorded eight wins, three draws and two losses against the Andalusians.

As for matches played at the Power Horse Stadium, formerly known as Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, the statistics are in Athletic's favour with three wins, two draws and just one loss.

Los Leones have claimed three wins, one draw and a loss from their last five visits to Almería.

This season's return fixture in Bilbao saw Los Rojiblancos run out 4-0 winners, with Iñaki Williams, Oihan Sancet, Nico Williams and Mikel Vesga getting on the scoresheet.