The Copa del Rey will return to action on Thursday, as La Liga outfit Elche will be travelling to the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos to face Segunda Division Almeria side.
The hosts are currently sitting top of the Segunda Division stsndings despite losing their most recent game, while Elche are just outside the relegation zone in La Liga.
Almeria were close to securing a promotion back to life in La Liga for the first time since 2015 last season, finishing fourth but then losing 3-0 on aggregate to Girona in the playoffs.
As is appears at the moment, they are determined to correct that mistake this season and are currently on course to earn automatic promotion and avoid the playoffs.
A 1-0 defeat to Cartagena at the weekend allowed the trailing pack to close up a little, but they still have a three-point margin and a game in hand on the second-placed Eibar.
After a scare in their first round of the Copa del Rey, where they required penalties to progress past Aguilas, they restored order in the second round with a 2-1 win against Amorebieta.
During their pre-Christmas trip to Camp Nou, Elche managed to pull themselves back from two goals down against Barcelona, raising hopes of a win, but Nico Gonzalez scored a winner for the Catalan giants.
However, they were able to end their losing streak after the winter break, but they hang on for a goalless draw after having been reduced to 10 men early in the second half against Granada.
They won just three of their 19 games in the first half of the season, which has left them 17th in the table, adrift of the relegation zone by goal difference, and the new coach Fransisco will be hoping for an improvement in the coming months.
Almeria vs Elche head to head
The two teams have previously met on 30 occasions in all competitions, where Almeria are leading with 13 victories while Elche have 8, and they have drawn in nine. Almeria have scored 45 goals and conceded 39. In their last five encounters, Almeria have won one and Elche two with one draw.
Elche 1-0 Almeria 10/08/18
Elche 2-2 Almeria 22/12/18
Almeria 5-3 Elche 12/05/19
Elche 1-1 Almeria 16/11/19
Almeria 0-2 Elche 26/01/20
Almeria latest home form
Almeria lost their last home match 1-0 to FC Cartagena. However, they have been on a good run of form at home, having not lost in more than ten matches. In their last five matches, they have won three, drawn one and lost one, scoring 8 goals and conceding 2.
Almeria 2-0 Burgos 07/11/21
Almeria 3-1 Real Valladolid 20/11/21
Almeria 0-0 Huesca 27/11/21
Almeria 3-0 Real Zaragoza 11/12/21
Almeria 0-1 Cartagena 02/01/22
Almeria latest away form
Almeria have been on a good run of form away from home, as they have not lost in any of their last six matches. They recently defeated Aguilas through penalty shootouts after a 1-1 draw and Amorebieta 2-1 in the Copa del Rey competition. They drew their last league away game.
Sporting Gijon 0-1 Almeria 02/11/21
Ibiza 0-1 Almeria 14/11/21
Aguilas 1-1(P) Almeria 30/11/21
Fuenlabrada 1-1 Almeria 04/12/21
Amorebieta 1-2 Almeria 16/12/21
Elche latest home form
Elche have recently been on a reletively poor form at home, as they have won just one of their last five matches in the league. That victory came 3-1 against Cadiz on December 5. In their last five, they have won one, drawn two and lost two in the process.
Elche 2-2 Espanyol 23/10/21
Elche 1-2 Real Madrid 30/10/21
Elche 0-3 Real Betis 21/11/21
Elche 3-1 Cadiz 05/12/21
Elche 0-0 Granada 02/01/22
Elche latest away form
Elche have failed to keep a regular form on the road, as they have failed to record successive wins. They lost 3-2 to Barcelona in their last league away match. In their last five matches, they have won two, drawn one and lost two, scoring 7 goals and conceding 6.
Osasuna 1-1 Elche 29/11/21
Leioa 0-2 Elche 02/12/21
Valencia 2-1 Elche 11/12/21
Unionistas de Salamanca 0-1 Elche 15/12/21
Barcelona 3-2 Elche 18/12/21
Almeria news
Almeria will be missing out Daniel Carrico and Dyego Sousa through injury, as both of them are recovering from hamstring and knee issues respectively.
They will also be missing the services of Srdjan Babic through suspension, while Umar Sadiq will not be available, as he has been called up for international duty.
Elche news
Lucas Perez, Lucas Boye, Dario Benedetto and Ivan Marcone are among those who have been self-isolating, while Gonzalo Verdu has now tested negative.
Defenders Pedro Bigas and Johan Mojica were able to come back into the starting XI last time out after recovering from injury, but Diego Gonzalez will now serve a suspension.
Prediction and Odds
Almeria have had a good record in this fixture in the recent few years, and they may want to use that alongside the advantage of playing at home to win the game.
Elche won in their most recent encounter, but Almeria have won three of their last five, and they could win here.
Odds: 1 2.30 X 3.10 2 2.60
Probable outcomes
Almeria 1-0 Elche
Almeria 2-1 Elche
Almeria 3-1 Elche
Almeria 4-2 Elche
Almeria 2-2 Elche
