Almería Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Almería aims to play a direct and vertical style of football through a 4-4-2 formation. This lineup is built to win the second ball and move the team forward quickly using two banks of four to maintain compactness. The primary goal is to sit deep when out of possession and use the width of the pitch to stretch the opposition.

Picón plays between the posts to manage the defensive line. The back four functions as a flat defensive block where Cano acts as the right back to support the flanks. Pedro Melli and Cesar form the central pair, with Pedro Melli providing strength in the air and Cesar acting to cover space behind the line. Elorza occupies the left back position to help defend the wide areas. The unit works to stay close together to deny the turn to any attacking players.

The midfield uses a central pairing of Hassane and Bilal to control the middle. Hassane works to shield the defence and drop deep to receive the ball from the centre backs. Bilal acts as a carrier to drive forward with the ball and link the defensive unit to the attack. Lolo Garrido and Montalbán operate on the flanks, with Lolo Garrido pressing from the left and Montalbán looking to provide width from the right. This group tries to compress the midfield when the opponent has the ball.

In the attacking phase, Almería uses two forwards in a partnership. Armand leads the line as the left striker, while Ojeda plays as the right striker to push the opposition back line high. The two attackers work to link up play between the lines and make runs in behind. When the team wins possession, the wingers look to spread wide to create space for the strikers to find the feet of the striker or run into channels. The formation creates chances through combinations in the final third.

This formation offers several tactical advantages for Almería. The two banks of four provide great compactness when defending in a mid-block. By using two central midfielders like Hassane and Bilal, the team can also attempt to win the second ball in the middle of the park. The presence of Armand and Ojeda allows the team to hit in behind on the transition if the opposition plays a high line.

The 4-4-2 is a reliable system for maintaining a solid defensive shape. It is best suited for matches against teams that dominate possession where Almería can defend deep and counter at pace.