Could Almeria be the Worst Team in the History of the European Club Football?

15/02/24 1024

There are many records that could be broken in the top five leagues in Europe, with the focus very much on the teams at the top.

For example, there is only one team left with an unbeaten record in the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 combined and that team is Bayer Leverkusen.

However, there is a record that could be broken at the wrong end of the Spanish topflight this season.

Having lost 2-1 at Valencia last weekend, Almeria are bottom of La Liga with just 6 points to their name.

Having played 23 league games, they have yet to win a match this season and have lost 17 of those games.

Almeria have conceded 51 goals, which is the worst defensive record in La Liga, and have scored 22 goals, with only Cadiz, Mallorca, and Rayo Vallecano scoring fewer.

Having lost 5 of their 6 most recent La Liga fixtures, there is no sign things are about to improve for Almeria and they could break the record for the lowest number of points by a team in the history of the top five European leagues.

That record is currently held by Derby County, who were relegated from the Premier League in 2008 with only 11 points.

Derby County recorded just a single victory from 38 matches that season, with 8 draws and 29 defeats. Derby County ended the season with a goal difference of -69 and were 24 points behind the team above them in the table.

There was a lot of expectation at Almeira, who avoided relegation on the final day of last season.

Saudi owner Turki Al-Sheikh spent money on players in the summer, including Luis Suárez, Edgar González, and Ibrahima Koné for a combined fee of €20 million.

Rubi resigned as manager in the summer and Vicente Moreno was sacked after only 7 games. Gaizka Garitano was appointed and lost his first 6 matches and Almeria were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by fourth tier Barbastro.

Nonetheless, Almeria have tested some of the big clubs in La Liga this season.

They were 2-0 up at Real Madrid before losing 3-2, held Girona to a 0-0 draw at home, were level with Barcelona away before conceding the losing goal in the 83rd minute, and lost narrowly at Atletico Madrid.

So, there is a group of players who can compete on the pitch with the top clubs in Spain yet cannot find a win against the other teams.

If Almeira fail to win their match against Athletic Bilbao, they will hold the record for the longest winless run from the start of a La Liga season.

Individual errors have played a significant role in the poor run of Almeria and if they can string 90 minutes together without a mistake, they should win a game before the end of the campaign.

Derby County will be hoping the win proves elusive and Almeria take their record as the worst team in the history of the top five European leagues.

Home team
Away team

Probability %

1X2

Pred

Correct score

Avg. goals

Weather conditions

Coef.

Score

Live
coef.

Es1

Granada CF UD Almería 18/02/2024 16:15

394120

X1-1

1 - 1

2.20

19°

3.50

2.05 3.50 3.50 no no no

FT

1 - 1(0 - 1)

-

- - -