ALMERIA VS REAL MADRID LIVE UPDATES: Picks, predictions, how to watch La Liga match
Now, the current Champions League and La Liga title holders are ready to defend their home crown, with one of the league’s three newcomers taking the road first for a match.
Almería won the Segunda División last season, topping the table on goal difference after finishing level on points with Real Valladolid. La Union, owned by Saudi royal adviser Turki al-Sheikh, played a prime mix of defensive prowess and attacking flair last season, scoring 68 goals through 42 league games (good for the second best in the league), while playing just 35 ( Best in the best league).
Almeria v. Real Madrid
Date: Sunday, August 14
Time: 4 p.m. ET
TV channel: N/A
Live stream: ESPN+
Odds, picks & predictions
Almeria: +600
Draw: +370
Real Madrid: -260
Real continued to push as Vinicius clearly forced Martinez to save at his near post, before Rudiger’s header was again driven off by the Spanish goalkeeper.
Vazquez soon placed the ball in the back of the net with a fine finish for the first time from the cross, although the strike was dismissed for offside. The call looked tight, but Almeria was given the advantage.
Aguaras sent a long shot behind Courtois’s right post as Almería reminded the Spanish champions of their threat, while Vinicius and Benzema at the other end added to set up Valverde, whose drill shot was too central and eased. Closed.
However, Real’s increasing pressure on Almería’s goal deserved an equalizer and it was Vazquez who drove home a scuffed pass from Benzema after Vinicius burst into the box.
The visitors began to impose themselves full time and got the winner they almost deserved when Alaba fired his free kick into the wall of Almería and into the corner just out of Martinez’s reach. Martínez scored 13 goals in the Almería goal and kept the game tight.
The old guard was needed but it will be seen as the job is done for Real, who are next in action on Saturday’s trip to Celta Vigo.
Almeria vs. Real Madrid TV channel, live stream
UK |
USA | Canada | Australia | |
| Date | Sun, Aug 14 | Sun, Aug 14 | Sun, Aug 14 | Mon, Aug 15 |
| Time | 21:00 BST | 16:00 ET | 16:00 ET | 06:00 AEST |
| TV channel | Premier Sports 1 | — | TSN 2 | — |
| Streaming | Premier Player HD | ESPN+ | TSN Go, TSN Direct, TSN app, TSN.ca | Optus Sport |
Manager Carlo Ancelotti promised some changes to the Real Madrid lineup coming out of the Super Cup. New centre-back Antonio Rudiger, who earned just minutes off the bench in Helsinki, is expected to join Eder Militao in the central defence. David Alaba is expected to take up left-back duty, while Lucas Vazquez replaces the injured Dani Carvajal (ankle) on the right.
Forward, Ballon d’Or front-runner Karim Benzema leads the attacking charge, with his trusted Brazilian sidekick Vinicius Jr. in support on the left. Rodrigo is out for the match, and Marco Asensio could line up on the right side of the forward line, joining Fede Valverde in the central midfield group where Aurelian Tchoumeni is expected to relieve Casemiro, according to Spanish media.
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