Almeria

Season preview: Almeria

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 13 August 2013

Sports Mole assesses whether Almeria can avoid relegation on their return to La Liga.

Almeria secured their spot in La Liga for the new campaign after coming through the dreaded playoff system in the Segunda Division last season.

They finished bottom of this division in the 2010-2011 season, but will be hopeful of a better display this time around.

Here, Sports Mole assesses whether Francisco Rodriguez can steer his side clear of the drop zone come the end of the season.

In: Sebastian Dubarbier (Cordoba), Nelson (Palermo – Loan), Oscar Ustari (Boca Juniors), Suso (Liverpool – Loan), Victor Ibanez (Cartagena), Rodri (Barcelona – Loan), Marcos Tebar (Girona), Oscar Diaz (Lugo), Marco Torsiglieri (Metalist)

Out: Charles (Celta Vigo), Diego Garcia (Ponferradina), Alvaro Mejia (Released), Carlos Calvo (Skoda Xanthi), Hernan Bernardello (Montreal)

Last season: Segunda Division, Third

Manager: Francisco Rodriguez

Three key players:

Almeria midfielder Corona celebrates a goal against Barcelona on April 9, 2011

Corona: Newly-promoted teams certainly need a lot of attacking invention and flair, but what they also need is a player that knows what it takes to represent that particular club. Corona certainly has a good pedigree having come through the Real Madrid youth system, where he was a regular scorer for the capital outfit. He joined Real Zaragoza in 2001, spending six years at the club – which included various loan spells – before eventually joining Almeria on a permanent contract in 2007. He has previous top-flight experience with the club, while at the age of 32, he is well respected in the dressing room. He has been widely linked with a move away from Almeria on a number of occasions over the past few seasons, but something has always kept him at the Juegos Mediterraneos. His performances in the new campaign could play a big role in how the club fare over the next nine months.

Suso: Almeria fought off a host of clubs to secure the services of Suso on a season-long loan deal from Liverpool this summer. A number of Premier League sides had been impressed by his performances in England, but the Spaniard felt that his education would be best served in his home nation. He joined Cadiz at the age of 12, spending six seasons at the club before his potential was spotted by Liverpool. Despite being just 19 years of age, Suso made 14 appearances in the Premier League last season, in addition to representing the Reds four times in the Europa League. He has also appeared twice for the Spanish Under-21s, while it is understood that he has been earmarked for the senior side in the future. Suso will certainly frustrate at times in the new season, but he could be just what Almeria need in order to compete.

Almeria midfielder Fernando Soriano posing for a club photograph on July 26, 2013

Fernando Soriano: Despite being recognised as a defensive midfielder, Soriano has had a very respectable goalscoring record at each club that he has represented. The 33-year-old, who came through the Real Zaragoza youth system, made his La Liga debut in 2011, before making the move to Almeria in 2005, where he scored 19 goals in 149 league goals. He departed in 2010 on a free transfer, however, with Osasuna securing his services. It proved to be a frustrating period of his career, with the club rescinding his contract in 2011, allowing Soriano to return to Almeria in 2011. Since joining for his second spell, he has found the back of the net 16 times in 77 league games, leading to suggestions that he could be deployed in a more advanced position. He will also take on the responsibility of the vice-captaincy in the new season, with the Spaniard sure to be an ever-present in the Almeria side.

First game: Villarreal (H) Aug 19

Sports Mole says: Losing last season's leading scorer Charles, who scored 27 goals in the Segunda Division, was hardly ideal preparation for the new campaign, but Francisco Rodriguez has managed to secure a number of clever signings in the transfer market. They are well stocked in midfield, but you have to worry about their defence, which conceded 50 times in 42 games last season, 12 more than second-place Villarreal and 23 more than champions Elche. They will, of course, find it tougher to score goals at this level, but they do have recent experience in the top flight of Spanish football, spending four straight seasons in La Liga from 2007. They are one of a number of sides facing relegation in the new season, but looking at the teams around them, you worry about their chances of remaining in the division come May.

Predicted finish: 20th