Almería hit rock bottom with worst first half campaign since Saudi takeover
The Segunda División side's form has nosedived since November, leaving them with their poorest points tally since the 2019-20 season despite early promotion hopes.
Almería’s promotion push has gone from champagne football to brown bread in recent months, with the club recording their worst first half of a season since Saudi ownership arrived at the Mediterranean club.
Form falling off a cliff
After a promising nine-match unbeaten run had fans dreaming of a swift return to La Liga, Almería’s form has taken a proper battering since late November. Their recent slump culminated in a draw at Anduva that leaves them sitting third in the table with just 36 points from their first 21 matches.
Perhaps most concerning for the Rojiblancos faithful is the leaky defence that has shipped a whopping 30 goals already - the highest number conceded at this stage under Saudi ownership and even worse than last season’s defensively suspect side.
Historical comparison
The current points tally represents Almería’s worst performance since the 2019-20 campaign when they also managed 36 points at the halfway mark. However, there’s a crucial difference:
- 2019-20: 36 points, but only 22 goals conceded (2nd position)
- 2023-24: 36 points with 30 goals conceded (3rd position)
The contrast with their promotion season under Rubi (2021-22) is particularly stark:
- 2021-22: 45 points with just 15 goals conceded (1st position)
- 2022-23: 39 points at this stage last season (1st position)
Silver linings
Despite the disappointing numbers, all is not lost for Almería. The team sits just two points off the automatic promotion spots, which they could claim this very weekend with the right results.
The squad undoubtedly possesses quality that exceeds their current form. However, with only two victories in their last six matches, the pressure is mounting on Rubi’s men to turn things around if they want to avoid becoming also-rans in the promotion race.
Injuries have played their part in the team’s struggles, with several key players performing below their capabilities. But with the quality in the squad, supporters will expect a significant improvement as the business end of the season approaches.