Almeria 1-0 Barcelona: summary, score, goals, highlights, LaLiga 2022/23
Almeria - Barcelona: LaLiga live online
So, is the LaLiga title race back on?
Barcelona looked very pedestrian tonight and Robert Lewandowski is not the player he was pre-World Cup.
Take nothing away from Almeria as Rubi mastered the game to perfection. Soak up the pressure and hit Barça on the break.
The first win for the home side sees Almeria leave the relegation zone and another big test looms ahead for Xavi on Thursday night as his men visit the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final of the 2022-23 edition.
Real Madrid will now feel that the point against Atleti in the derby was one gained rather than two lost.
FT: UDA 1-0 FCB
A 24th minute goal from El Bilal enough to record a famous win for the home side.
FT, that's it ... Almeria beat FC Barcelona for the first time ever !!!!!!!
El Bilal's 24th minute goal is the difference between the sides.
Raphinha feeds Araujo and the ball is just inches away from the defender and it drifts wide to the delight of the 15,000 fans at the Power Horse Stadium as Almeria almost make it 2-0...
Embarba goes alone and Ter Stegen saves.
Araujo once again and as we've seen earlier, the Uruguayan nods over the bar.
Almeria fans celebrate as they sense a famous win is just moments away.
We'll have a further five minutes of added time.
Can Almeria hang on?
Into the last minute we go...a bug night for the Andalusian side if they can secure the 3 points.
Ely fluffs his lines and Barcelona win a corner.
Fernandes on for the home side El Bilal leaves the pitch to a solid round of applause.
Great chance for the visitors as Araujo nods inches wide. Fernando totally beaten and a let-off for the home side.
Fernando carded for time wasting.
Last five in Almeria.
The home side holding firm.
Samu Costa tests Ter Stegen but the ball is easy for the German.
Almeria on the cusp of making history.
Samu and Pozo on for Almeria, with Baptistao and Babic making way
Torre clips Embarba and the young Barcelona man is lucky to get away with that
Still nothing on target for Barcelona after 81 minutes.
Almeria too have been shy in front of the Catalan side's goal as they look to contain the 1-0 lead.
Should things stay as they are here, Real Madrid may look at the result of the derby game in a different light with a 'one point won' perspective rather than the current 'two dropped' view.
Barcelona changes
Alarcon and Torre on with Sergi Roberto and Busquets making way
Almeria substitutes
Embarba and Ramazini on
Luis Suarez and Robertone making way
Araju heads wide with the goal at his mercy....Poor from the defender
Ramazini and Embarba poised to make an entrance for Almeria.
How much do Barcelona miss Pedri?
Barcelona almost toe the game as Torres crosses and the ball almost sneaks into the net.
Time slipping away for the visitors as Almeria are content to lap up the Barcelona pressure and hit the visitors on the break.
Suarez almost makes it 2-0 as a fierce drive hits Alonso and is averted for a corner.
Changes for Barcelona
Jordi Alba replaced by Marcos
Garcia off with Araujo on
Barcelona have limited creativity tonight as the bombard the Almeria box with speculative crosses.
Changes coming up from Barcelona as Marcos Alonso and Araujo are stripped and ready for action.
Just the one change so far tonight with Raphinha on for Kessie.
Players from both sides warming up and just a question of time before we see fresh blood on the pitch.
Barcelona are pegging Almeria back now but things are just failing to click for the Catalan side and we're less than 30 minutes away from the first ever Almeria win over the LaLiga giants.
We've reached the hour mark at the Power Horse Stadium and it's been a struggle for the Catalan side.
Gavi carded as he clips Baptistao.
55' minutes of action and Barcelona still yet to muster a shot on goal.
Chumi no makes his way into the ref's notebook too as he fouls De Jong.
Barcelona do lead in terms of corner kicks and it looks like Xavi will be carded...
Yes, the Catalan coach gets a warning and as a result will not be able to oversee next weekend's LaLiga clash at Camp Nou as his side welcome Valencia.
Raphina for Kessie was a FC Barcelona switch at the break incidentally.
It's been a discreet showing from the Polish striker tonight.... seems to be off his game for some reason.
Robertone carded for a foul on Lewandowski.
Second half underway in Almeria
As things stand, a win would catapult Almeria from 19th place up to 15th, so tight are things in the relegation zone in LaLiga.
Nothing going right for Xavi's men as they seem to be suffering from a Manchester hangover.
0 shots on target for Barcelona with Fernando in the Almeria never really tested.
Almeria look good, especially on the break and the pace of El Bilal and Suarez is proving hot to handle for Barça.
HT at the Power Horse Stadium and the home side lead through the El Bilal strike.
We'll have one minute of added time.
Into the final minute of the half.
Barcelona have a big one coming up as they face Real Madrid next Thursday at the Bernabeu in the Copa del Rey 22/23 first leg.
Almeria just over 45' from making history in beating FC Barcelona for the first time ever in LaLiga in meetings between the two sides
Almeria ahead through the 24th minute strike from El Bilal.
Barça with 0 shots on target in over 40 minutes of action.
Barcelona still probing looking for a way through but Almeria are level to the challenge and are looking solid in defence... it has to be said that creativity has bot been a string point from the visitors today.
Five minutes of the first 45' remain.
Eric Garcia gets the first card of the game as he slides into Eguaras.
Barcelona go close as Christensen fires over. The flag was up against the Danish international.
Alba and Baptistao collide and the Almeria man seems to be in trouble.
Past the half hour mark as Barcelona win a series of corner kicks.
Fernando still yet to be really troubled by the men in gold.
The home fans really enjoying things now as Almeria dominate with Xavi's men rocked by the El Bilal goal.
So, Barcelona trail a game. Not the first time all season as the were behind against Osasuna pre WC 2022 and came back to win.
Leo Baptistao forces a fine save from the Brazilian who almost steers the ball in from a fine angle.
Gooooooooooool
El Bilal fires Almeria ahead... great finish from the striker from Mali.
Gavi is lucky to get away with no card as he clips Robertone.
The Catalan side have still not managed to totally dominate the game with Fernando in the Almeria goal yet to be tested.
First corner of the night goes the way of the visiting side. Torres finds Alba and a poor header from Sergi Roberto sees the ball drift wide.
Quarter of an hour gone and a tame ball in from the left by Jordi Alba is gathered by Fernando.
The Catalan side have only shipped 7 goals all season in LaLiga which is the best defensive record in all the top European leagues.
The noise levels have dropped a little as Barcelona start to control the game with sustained spells of possession.
An ambitious strike from Torres drifts well over the bar.
Still nothing resembling a clear-cut chance to date.
Both teams yet to get into the groove with a series of errors being committed by both teams.
A string of niggly fouls also hampering the flow of the game.
De la Hoz does well and almost feeds a the ball into the box. Busquets averts the danger but better from the home side.
Bright start from the visitors as they peg Almeria back. Neither keeper yet to be tested as both teams ease their way into the game.
Big, big crowd here today and decent noise levels being generated by the home fans.
All set in Almeria.
Ortiz Arias sounds his whistle and off we go......
The men in gold get the action underway.
Almeria lost 6-2 in Girona last week and Barcelona are fresh from their Europa League exit in Manchester on Thursday night.
The teams are in the tunnel ... Almeria ready for action and the Catalan side in their gold training tops.
Almeria bag 86% of all points at home
With 0 wins and just 3 draws, Almeria are level with Elche as the worst team away from home in the 22/23 season.
Fortunately for UDA fans, tonight's game is at home where have won 6 of their 11 home games racking up 86% of all points secured in the current season at home.
Kick-off looming now with less than 15' ahead of kick off.
Fans packing their way into the 15,000 capacity stadium with close to a full house expected tonight.
Araujo sidelined
Many wondering tonight as to why Ronaldo Araujo is not starting for FC Barcelona.... The central defender has been struggling with a cold and is still carrying a muscular 'niggle' with the decision taken to rest the Uruguayan international as a precautionary measure.
Ter Stegen commences warm-up
The German keeper is the first Barcelona player to take to the pitch at the Power Horse Stadium as he is put through his paces by the goalkeeping technical side.
Xavi pragmatic following Europa League exit at the hands of Man United
UDA-FCB: matchday weather
It's a mild February evening in the Andalusian city with a current temperature of 16C/63F with no rain forecast for the duration of the game.
The province of Almeria is synonymous with dry weather and is known as Spain's 'green-house'.
Ideal conditions for the players and fans alike.
Xavi names FCB XI
Lewandowski, Gavi and Ferran Torres lead the front line for Barcelona with another start for Kessie.
Christensen and Eric Garcia will operate at the heat of the defence with the versatile Sergi Roberto on the right flank and Jordi Alba in his habitual left back role.
UD Almeria XI named
No Ramazani upfront for Almeria today with Malian El Bilal set to partner Leo Baptistao and Luis Suarez as part of a 4-2-3-1 formation with El Bilal as the out and out target man.
UDA-FCB: absentees
Ousmane Dembélé and Pedri are ruled out of the Sunday game with Ansu Fati joining them in the recovery room after picking up an injury in training this week.
Just one absentee for Almeria and Rubi with Pozo injured and Melero missing the game through suspension.
Almeria yet to beat Barça in LaLiga
This will be the fourteenth league meeting between the sides with Almería yet to record a win against the Catalan giants.
Barça have won the last seven of those games, including a spectacular 8-0 win on the road in 2010, and also comfortably won both legs of their Copa del Rey meeting in 2011.
Barça in gold tonight
Almeria will sport their traditional red and white striped shirt tonight with red shorts. The visitors will wear their away kit which is a fetching all gold number this season.
What is Power Horse ?
The former stadium de los Juegos Mediterráneos in Almeria has been rebranded 'Power Horse' stadium that has led many taking to Google for a quick Power Horse search.
It is in fact an energy drink and according to the official website, it's a premium energy drink enjoyed by millions of fans across the globe everyday. It is essentially a lifestyle in a can that fuels ambitions.
Almeria looking to spring a shock
A packed Power Horse Stadium will be hoping that Ramazani and Luis Suarez can deliver the goals and secure the points that could see Rubi's men escape the drop zone with the Andalusian side currently second bottom.
Barcelona’s possible starting line-up vs Almería
Xavi Hernández is expected to make four changes to the team that began Thursday’s Europa League defeat to Manchester United.
Barcelona’s potential line-up vs Almería:
Barça’s likely XI in Almería looks like this: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araújo, Alonso, Alba; Kessié, Busquets, Gavi; Raphinha, Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.
Substitutes: Arnau Tenas, Iñaki Peña, Sergi Roberto, Balde, Christensen, Eric García, De Jong, Pablo Torre and Alarcón.
Almeria-FC Barcelona: referee
Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias is today's man in the middle with the 38-year-old a relative newcomer to officiating in the top flight having made the move up from Segunda to Primera in 2021.
Almeria currently sit second bottom in LaLiga and are one of the 5/6 teams involved in a relegation battle to avoid filling the two further spots with not even the most optimistic Elche fans seeing their situation being readdressed.
One has to go back to 2010 for the last positive result achieved by Almeria against the Catalan giants as they drew 2-2.
All other meetings between both clubs since 2007 have ended with a FC Barcelona win.
Almería vs Barcelona: last five meetings
November 2022, LaLiga: Barcelona 2-0 Almería
April 2015, LaLiga: Barcelona 4-0 Almería
November 2014, LaLiga: Almería 1-2 Barcelona
March 2014, LaLiga: Barcelona 4-1 Almería
September 2013, LaLiga: Almería 0-2 Barcelona
Barcelona currently hold a seven point lead over Real Madrid after 'Los Blancos' only managed a 1-1 draw yesterday at the Bernabeu against 10-man Atleti and it took a debut goal from Alvaro Rodriguez in the 85th minute to salvage a point.
One feels that a win for the Catalan side today would edge Xavi's men a further step towards the title.
The game gets underway at 18:30 (CEST) local time. 12:30 pm (ET) or 09:30 am (PT).
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the LaLiga matchday 23 clash as FC Barcelona face Almeria at the Power Horse Stadium.