Almería comes out of relegation with a victory (2-1) against Valencia, which remains in the relegation zone. The team from Almería put an end to a four-game winless streak by adding the three points thanks to goals from Melero and Babic in the second half. Samu Castillejo closed the gap.
Valencia had been better during the first half, with their best options through Justin Kluivert, in a distant shot and a one-on-one with Fernando, or with a run from Gayá, also repelled by the Almeria goalkeeper, taking advantage of some defensive errors .
However, Almería got the game back on track in the second half with goals from Melero, first, and Babic, later. Samu Castillejo scored the Valencian goal to leave the score in the final 2-1.
The first approaches were from Valencia through centers hung from the right wing, although the first clear play of danger was made by Almería in a counter that Robertone forgave, who fell behind the ball served by Arnau Puigmal when he had a highway in front of Mamardashvili.
The answer was given by Justin Kluivert, taking advantage of an error by the local defense. The strong right hand of the Dutchman was rejected by Fernando for a corner. Samuel Lino also tried his luck, with space from outside the area, equally without success.
A hard challenge from Chumi to Lino left the left lane free for the arrival in the Gayá area, which again forced Fernando to intervene. Valencia played and arrived more and better.
It took Almería a world to elaborate. Only when the ball reached Arnau Puigmal did he give the impression of being in danger. He did it again in about half an hour, finding a corridor for Chumi to reach the area, although in the end no auctioneer appeared.
Valencia had it again when Castillejo saw Kluivert in depth, who in a one-on-one with Fernando chipped a ball that seemed to reach the goal until Babic, practically on the line, sent it away. Valencia asked for a non-existent penalty in the fall of the Dutchman, who shortly after would be forced to leave injured.
In those moments, in which Almería had one more player on the pitch, Luis Suárez sent a cross from Álex Centelles near the post, now from the left.
Valencia was also seen with one less in the first minutes of the restart, due to Nico's injury. This time Almería did take advantage of it. Samú Costa found Melero and he made it 1-0.
Almería grew and was able to score the second immediately, in an action by Robertone entering from the left that Arnau Puigmal finished off without luck in the small area. Luis Suárez also had it, but his cross shot went wide.
He did it by pulling the slate. Robertone put in a corner from the left and Babic shot unopposed at the far post to make it 2-0. Second consecutive game in which the center-back sees the door.
Valencia was knocked out but found a silver lining in a rebound from the red and white defense that Samu Castillejo took advantage of to close the gap. There was still half an hour left and the ball would once again belong to the visitors.
Baraja put Cavani on the pitch, absent from the eleven, in search of a comeback or, at least, a tie. The Uruguayan headed a ball that went slightly high and then failed to finish off after gaining position from Babic.
Hugo Duro also touched the goal with a header in the last moments, after a cross from Gayá, but he did not find the prize either and Almería kept the three points.
2 - Almeria: Fernando; Chumi, Rodrigo Ely, Babic, Centelles; Samú Costa, Robertone (Eguaras, min. 93), Melero (De la Hoz, min. 78); Arnau Puigmal (Álex Pozo, min. 66), Léo Baptistao (Ramazani, min. 78) and Luis Suárez (Kaiky, min. 92).
1 - Valencia: Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Diakhaby, Cenk, Gayá; André Almeida, Nico (Guillamón, min. 50), Samu Castillejo (Cavani, min. 73), Samuel Lino (Musah, min. 73); Kluivert (Fran Pérez, min. 42) and Hugo Duro.
Referee: Sanchez Martinez (Murciano Committee). He warned Chumi (m.20), Luis Suarez (m.23) and Robertone (m.42), for Almeria, and Foulquier (m.7) and Fran Perez (m.86), for Valencia.
Goals: 1-0, m.49: Melero; 2-0, m.58: Babic; 2-1, m.61: Samu Castillejo.
Incidents: Matchday 28 of LaLiga Santander, played at the Power Horse Stadium (Almería) in front of 14,039 spectators.
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