Almeria, with 10 players, secure goalless draw against Athletic, extending winless streak
Almeria, despite being reduced to 10 men, made history in LaLiga by extending their winless streak to a record-breaking length, holding Athletic Club to a goalless draw. The match saw both teams create opportunities, but neither could capitalize, resulting in Los Rojiblancos enduring their 27th consecutive top-flight game without a victory, a streak dating back to May of the previous year.
From the outset, the Lions demonstrated their intent to dominate proceedings, with Mikel Vesga and Unai Gomez coming close to scoring early on. However, Almeria also had their moments in attack, with Dion Lopy and Marc Pubill testing the Athletic Club goalkeeper with their efforts.
Despite Almeria’s efforts, they struggled to find the back of the net, a recurring theme for the team as they had failed to score in their previous four home games. Largie Ramazani and Anthony Lozano had opportunities to break the deadlock, but their efforts were thwarted by the Athletic Club defense.
The visitors came close to scoring themselves, with goalkeeper Luis Maximiano making a spectacular save to deny Aitor Paredes’ powerful header. Despite the intense back-and-forth action, neither side could find a breakthrough, resulting in a frustrating stalemate for both teams.
The draw extended Almeria’s winless run in LaLiga history, highlighting the challenges they face in securing a victory. Despite their efforts, the team will need to regroup and find ways to convert their opportunities into goals in order to change their fortunes in future matches.
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After the halftime interval, the pace of the game slowed down considerably, leaving Almeria poised for their fourth goalless draw in five matches at the Power Horse Stadium. Their challenge was further compounded by the dismissal of Largie Ramazani, who received his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Oscar de Marcos in the 53rd minute.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, opportunities were scarce initially, with Iker Muniain having the best chance for Ernesto Valverde’s team, albeit a save that was relatively straightforward. Raul Garcia came closest to breaking the deadlock when his effort hit the woodwork after connecting with Ander Herrera’s delivery. Almeria then came agonizingly close to snatching the victory when Marezi struck the crossbar following a swift counterattack.
The outcome of the match means that Athletic Club missed out on the opportunity to break into the top four of the league standings, although they have now gone nearly seven hours of football without conceding a goal. On the other hand, the hosts find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table, a daunting 13 points adrift from safety. With victory eluding them for such an extended period, Almeria faces an uphill battle to avoid relegation and will require something extraordinary to secure their place among the league’s elite by the end of the season.