In an exhilarating La Liga showdown, Sergi Roberto emerged as the unexpected hero for Barcelona, netting his first-ever double in his 357th game for the club. His pivotal performance propelled Barcelona to a nail-biting 3-2 win over Almeria, a crucial boost in their chase for the league title.
The triumph hoists Barcelona to the third spot on the league table, trailing the frontrunner Girona by six points and just four points behind Real Madrid in second, with both rivals still having a game in hand.
The scoring opened with Raphinha’s dynamic finish, followed by Roberto’s initial goal, putting Barcelona in the lead twice. However, each time Almeria clawed back with responses from Leo Baptistao and Edgar Gonzalez.
The decisive moment came late in the game when Roberto once again found the back of the net, snapping Barcelona’s three-match streak without a victory.
Barcelona now sets off to Dallas for an exhibition match against Club America from Mexico, preceding their winter hiatus. Their La Liga campaign resumes on January 4 against Las Palmas.
Barcelona showed flashes of dominance but faced stiff resistance from a determined Almeria squad, who capitalized on some hesitant plays and defensive lapses from the Catalan giants.
Almeria’s Baptistao exploited a defensive gap left by Ronald Araujo to level the scores after Raphinha’s early opener. Roberto’s header seemed to put Barca ahead, but a blunder from substitute goalkeeper Inaki Pena allowed Gonzalez to equalize once more.
Barcelona’s ace striker Robert Lewandowski, with three goals in 14 appearances across all competitions, missed multiple chances to extend the lead.
In the final pursuit of victory, Ilkay Gundogan narrowly missed a header, but it was Roberto who emerged as the savior, deftly guiding the ball past Almeria’s goalkeeper Luis Maximiano, following a splendid assist from Lewandowski.
Match Details:
Teams: Barcelona vs Almería
Ball Possession: Barcelona 65% – Almería 35%
Shot Statistics: Barcelona (30 shots, 11 on target) – Almería (10 shots, 5 on target)
Corners: Barcelona 12 – Almería 0
Fouls Committed: Barcelona 16 – Almería 9
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Barcelona Almeria Match Recap
Who scored the decisive goals for Barcelona in their match against Almeria?
Sergi Roberto was the standout player for Barcelona, scoring twice in their 3-2 victory over Almeria. It marked his first brace for the club in his 357th game.
What was the significance of Barcelona’s win over Almeria?
The win was crucial for Barcelona in the La Liga title race, lifting them to third in the table, six points behind leaders Girona and four points adrift of Real Madrid, with both teams having a game in hand.
Did any other Barcelona players contribute significantly in the match against Almeria?
Yes, Raphinha also scored for Barcelona, giving them an early lead in the match. Additionally, Robert Lewandowski, despite not scoring, created several good opportunities and provided the assist for Sergi Roberto’s winning goal.
What were the match statistics for Barcelona vs Almeria?
Barcelona dominated possession with 65%, compared to Almeria’s 35%. Barcelona also led in shots (30 vs 10), shots on target (11 vs 5), corners (12 vs 0), and committed more fouls (16 vs 9).
What’s next for Barcelona after their match against Almeria?
Following the victory over Almeria, Barcelona is scheduled to play a friendly match in Dallas against Mexican side Club America before entering their winter break. Their next official La Liga match is against Las Palmas on January 4.
More about Barcelona Almeria Match Recap
- Barcelona’s La Liga Standings
- Sergi Roberto’s Career Highlights
- Raphinha’s Performance This Season
- Overview of Real Madrid and Girona’s Current Season
- Analysis of Barcelona vs Almeria Match
- Robert Lewandowski’s Season Stats
- Barcelona’s Upcoming Fixtures and Winter Break Schedule
- La Liga Official Statistics and Team Comparisons
- Profile of Club America, Barcelona’s Friendly Match Opponent
- Detailed Report on Las Palmas, Barcelona’s Next La Liga Opponent
6 comments
Girona leading the table, what a surprise this season! Wonder how long they can keep this up. Barca and Madrid better watch out.
Seriously? 65% possession and we barely scrape a win against Almeria? Xavi needs to sort out our defence, it’s getting ridiculous now..
wow, Sergi Roberto really stepping up his game finally! about time he showed his true potential in such a crucial match, great to see.
that match was intense, back and forth all the way. Props to Almeria for giving Barca a tough time, didn’t expect that.
Lewandowski missing those chances, not like him at all. Hope he gets back in form soon, we need those goals.
Remember the days when Barca’s play was more fluid and confident? missing those times, current team seems to struggle too much.