Barcelona vs Almería prediction 20.12.2023

• Competition: La Liga
• Date: Wednesday, 20th December 2023
• Kickoff: 18:00 UK / 19:00 CET
• Venue: Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys (Barcelona)

Due to financial problems, Barcelona are not the dominant team they once were. However, through their academy and smart free transfers, the Catalan team are managing to stay among the best teams in Spain. Last year, they managed to win La Liga title, but failing to come out of the group phase of the UCL in the previous two seasons was a massive failure. This season, Barcelona are having success in the Champions League, where they secured the knockout phase, but in La Liga, they are slowly losing pace. With only one point in the last two La Liga games, Barca are already six points behind the league's leader, Girona, and with one more played game. 

Last season, Almeria barely secured survival in La Liga, as they finished the season just one point above the relegation zone. However, this season is not looking promising for the Andalusian team. Right now, Almeria are the last-placed team with only five points in 17 rounds and already eight points below the safe zone. If something doesn't change quickly, Almeria will most likely get relegated.

Barcelona vs Almeria pick: Barcelona to win and cover the -2 AH spread

Barcelona are in terrible form, winning only one point in the last three games in all competitions. Still, we cannot say they are playing poorly, but the lack of goals is simply too much to handle. For example, in the last game vs Valencia, on the road, Barca drew 1:1 while having 3.52 xG. That is something that keeps happening and something they will have to change very soon. Now, the Catalan team will now face the worst defensive team in the league, which is the perfect opportunity to fix that problem. Also, at Estadio Olimpico, Barcelona are doing really well. They won ten of 12 games in all competitions, losing only to Girona and Real Madrid. 

Almeria are the only team in La Liga without a win after 17 rounds! Away from home, they are simply terrible, as they lost seven of eight matches with a devastating 21 conceded goals - 2.63 per game.

In the previous h2h game at Camp Nou, Barcelona won 2:0. This time, the game will be played on Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys, where Barcelona played very well throughout the season. Even though Barcelona are in some kind of mini-crisis, they are simply a much better team, and we expect a comfortable win against the worst team in La Liga.