Valencia and Almeria went head to head on Saturday afternoon. Both teams were looking for the win to either clinch the Champions league spot or stay away from relegation. Valencia was able to make an incredible comeback as they were behind twice in the game, but with Paco Alcacer scoring a late goal in the 79th min, they were able to take the win in a 3-2 result and clinch a spot for the Champions League next season.
For Almeria, it seemed like they were going to survive Saturday’s game and stay in La Liga for next season, but Valencia would end their celebrations and see Almeria relegated to La Liga Adelante along with Cordoba and Eibar. Thomas Partey and Fernando Soriano both scored for Almeria in the first half to give them the lead twice in the first half but goals from Nicolas Otamendi, Sofiane Feghouli and Alcacer gave Valencia the win.
The first goal came in the 9th on a free kick given to Almeria. Partey took the free kick from about 25 meters. Party aimed the ball on the lower right corner of the goal and saw the ball curve and ricochet off the Diego Alves gloves. The ball then went into the net and gave Almeria the 1-0 lead.
Nicolas Otamendi tied it up in the 28th min on a corner kick. The ball was curved inside the box and Otamendi jumped over all the defenders and got the ball behind the net to tie the game.
Almeria took the lead once again in the 36th min when Thievy Bifouma went one on one against goalkeeper Alves but saw his shot saved by the Valencia goalkeeper. Soriano was there to get the rebound and chipped it over three defenders and the goalkeeper and give his team the 2-1 lead.
Feghouli was able to tie it up just before the first half ended. Another corner kick play was what got Valencia the tie. Javi Fuego was able to cross the ball inside the box and Paco Alcacer saved the ball from going out. He found Feghouli in the danger zone and tap it into the net to make it 2-2.
Alcacer gave Valencia the lead for the first time in the game. A mistake from an Almeria defender saw Alcacer recover the mistake and go one on one against the goalkeeper and get it into the net to make it a 3-2 game and give Valencia the win.
With this, Valencia celebrated their spot in the Champions league next season while Almeria tried their best to not be relegated but lost to the better team on Saturday afternoon.
Valencia ended their season in fourth place with 77 points while Almeria ended in 19th place and will play in the Liga Adelante next season and hope to return to La Liga.
The man of the match goes out to Paco Alcacer, who gave Valencia the late lead and help his team win.
