TFT Issue 87!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Real Zaragoza vs Almeria – home win at 4/5.
Today’s featured game is the Spanish Primera Liga relegation battle in northern Spain between Real Zaragoza and Almeria. The hosts are in with a good chance of beating the drop whereas it looks less and less likely with every passing week that Almeria will beat the drop as they’re seven points from safety with just six games remaining.
I advised you all to back Zaragoza to beat Getafe in their last home game and I’m going to do the same here for the same reasons. Zaragoza are a good football side – they pass the ball well and create chances. Their problem has always been scoring their chances rather than making them, which is comforting to a certain degree. Now that the likes of Lafita and Boutahar are nearing 100% match fitness again, Zaragoza are back to looking strong with their imperious and dangerous midfield. The absent Uche in attack still leaves question marks over the consistency of Zaragoza’s goalscoring ability but they’ve played well lately, irrespective of their results, and I think they should be given a shot here as they’re genuinely too good to be where they are in the table. Incidentally, Zaragoza have won six out of their last eight home games in the Primera Liga, drawing once, and losing once along the way!
Visitors Almeria are typical Andaluscian battlers but although they bring firepower into their games, they simply concede far too many goals to be taken seriously. Almeria appear to have finally accepted defeat intheir battle against relegation with four consecutive defeats leading them into this encounter. You could argue that their last three defeats – 1-3 at home to Athletic Club de Bilbao, 3-1 at Barcelona, and 0-3 against Valencia CF – were to be expected and I’d agree, in all fairness. However, what I’d say in response to that is that it’s not the results that make me worried for Almeria but more their displays. Barring a spell in the Barcelona game, Almeria have looked relegated and have defended like a Segunda Liga side. You simply can’t get away with that at this level, just as Almeria have discovered this season. Almeria have lost seven out of their last eight away games in the Primera Liga and no other side can “better” their dismal record of fifty-seven goals conceded in thirty-two games barring local rivals Malaga so it does look rather bleak for minnows Almeria.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the visitors score here as Oltra likes his team to attack and score goals; that’s just what they do. They welcome back Piatti in attack to reunite their deadly threesome in attack and let’s face it – if Almeria are to have any hope whatsoever of beating the drop then they’ll need to win this game, which leaves Zaragoza with the happy job of counter-attacking with pacey midfielders ala Lafita and Herrera. Don’t get me wrong – Zaragoza need to take their chances here but they’ve got a better team than Almeria and they play better football too. For me, there’s value in the home win at 4/5.
Team news – Real Zaragoza miss Uche.
Verdict: Real Zaragoza to win at 4/5.