In the Mediterranean Games stadium, the Almería squad faced Granada as a low intensity duel on the eighth matchday of the 2023-24 season. The home side, playing without Vicente Moreno, aimed to tighten their position in La Liga and extend their historic edge over the Andalusian visitors.
The match preview highlighted that Almería had not tasted defeat nor conceded a goal in any of their four league meetings with Granada, a record that underscores the consistency of this local clash. Since a 0-1 loss in November 1993 in the Second Division B, Almería had not lost any of the last nine home games against Granada, tallying five wins and four draws. Each home encounter with Granada in La Liga had ended 3-0 in Almería’s favor, reinforcing the perceived balance in this derby.
In the broader context of Andalusian derbies, Almería had three losses in their last six home meetings, while Granada had not won in their last eleven away trips to top-flight rivals, with five draws and six defeats. This background suggested a potential turning point for Granada, who would need to wrest control away from the hosts on unfamiliar turf.
As the season progressed, Almería had recorded just two points from their first seven league games, marking their worst start in the top division in the early phase of a campaign. The tendency to struggle in away trips for Granada continued as they faced a difficult run in the top tier, with the visitors looking for a spark to reverse their uncertain form away from home.
The early moments of the day framed an intense dynamic: a battle for control in midfield, quick transitions, and opportunities at both ends. The narrative suggested that Almería could leverage their home advantage and pressing intensity to shape the tempo, while Granada would seek to exploit any lapse with quick counters and set pieces.
Minute by minute Almería vs. Granada from LaLiga 2023-2024
The live online summary of Almería vs. Granada from La Liga 2023-2024: videos, goals and stats
70th minute brought a decisive moment as Ricard Sánchez fired home. Almería led 3-2 after a counterattack finished off by a Granada player who attempted a cross shot that Luis Maximiano could not keep out, guiding the ball into the net for the Indálicos. The late surge highlighted Almería’s instinct for finishing and Granada’s vulnerability on the break.
66th minute extended the lead for Almería. A strike to the goalkeeper’s right side deceived Maximiano, restoring a two-goal cushion with about twenty-five minutes remaining. The away side now faced a difficult climb to recover.
63rd minute presented another turning point as a penalty was awarded to Granada after a foul in the box. A second chance from the spot was created for Granada, keeping the contest alive and intensifying the tension around the scoreboard.
57th minute saw Luis Maximiano make a crucial save, preserving the current score as he denied a shot from Antonio Puertas at the bottom right with a timely stop. The keeper’s reflexes kept the match within reach for Almería.
55th minute, Granada earned a penalty after a mishap in the Almería defense, with Idrissu Baba committing a foul to halt Gonzalo Villar in the area. The spot kick offered Granada an opportunity to close the gap further and set the stage for a dramatic finish.
Granada initially showed momentum in the first part of the match, while Almería found their footing as the action progressed. A swift shift in pressure led to an early lead for Almería through a goal by Luis Suárez after a sequence started by a recovered ball and a precise pass that breached Granada’s defense. The subsequent momentum forced Granada to chase the game, a task that proved difficult as Almería maintained control and leveraged their structure to apply sustained pressure.
At halftime, Almería had delivered a strong performance, and as the minutes folded in, the home side found ways to puncture Granada’s defense. A dynamic duo emerged in the final stretch, with Largie Ramazani and Luis Suárez combining to widen the scoreline. Ramazani’s pace and Suárez’s clinical finishing created a decisive impact, while Bryan Zaragoza contributed with his frequent runs from the left flank, though fortune did not always align with the danger he generated.
A remarkable moment came when the Colombian forward Luis Suárez etched a hat-trick within a span of five minutes, transforming the game and showcasing his striking prowess. The sequence began with a fast counter for Almería, followed by Suárez finishing calmly and decisively, a moment captured in the stadium and celebrated by supporters. The unfolding drama underscored the capacity of the Almería attack to be relentless when in rhythm.
The match also carried social media resonance as a clip circulated showing Suárez completing a hat-trick in rapid succession, echoing the atmosphere in the arena. The narrative around the encounter recalled Almería’s offensive resilience and Granada’s late exposure to pressure as the home team pressed forward with optimism.
As the action concluded, the lineup confirmed for Almería featured Maximiano in goal, with a defensive line of Arnau, Chumi, Kaiky, and Akieme, supported by Edgar, Lopy, and Melero in midfield, and a front line of Leo Baptistao, Ramazani, and Luis Suárez. Granada countered with a starting XI led by Ferreira, supported by Ricard, Ignasi Miquel, Torrente, Neva, Gumbau, Sergio Ruiz, Doors, alley, Bryan Zaragoza, and Lucas Boyé. Source for the match details remained Goal [Goal].