“Fabrizio Brignani breaks the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, capping a frantic opening period punctuated by five yellow cards. The goal came after Miguel De la Fuente had gone close moments earlier and the match had been disrupted by a string of fouls and bookings.”
Pivotal“Almería equalise through Sergio Arribas, assisted by Stefan Džodić, just minutes after Castellón had made a double substitution that disrupted the home side's momentum. A blocked shot and a miss from Nico Melamed in the build-up showed Almería pressing before the leveller arrived.”
Pivotal
Castellón
Almería
Outstanding performance
Almería•MidfielderCastellón dominated this mid-table La Liga 2 encounter from start to finish, commanding 65% of possession, registering 15 shots to Almería's four, and generating 75 dangerous attacks compared to just 21 from the visitors — yet they were unable to hold onto their lead. The home side's reward for their pressure came just before the break when Fabrizio Brignani converted to make it 1-0, a goal that had been building through a frenetic first half littered with yellow cards and flashpoints. Almería, however, showed the kind of counter-punching pragmatism that keeps sides alive in the division, and Sergio Arribas capitalised on a mistake shortly after Castellón's double substitution reshaped the game's rhythm, levelling through a well-assisted finish from Stefan Džodić's delivery. For Castellón, the share of points will feel like daylight robbery given their statistical dominance — with eight corners to Almería's zero and two big chances created to one — while Almería will count themselves fortunate to leave with anything at all.
How entertaining was this match?
Marc Olivier Doue takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Fabrizio Brignani takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Alex Munoz receives a yellow card.
Martin Conde is substituted for Camara Ousmane.
Douglas Aurelio is on, and Lucas Alcazar Moreno is off.
Camara Ousmane takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Leonardo Carrilho Baptistao comes on for Sergio Arribas Calvo.
Raul Sanchez takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Alex Calatrava takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Chumi is on, and Daijiro Chirino is off.
Arnau Puigmal comes on for Adrian Embarba.
Substitution: Israel Suero Fernández comes on for Adam Jakobsen.
Raul Sanchez comes on for Pablo Santiago.
Alex Calatrava takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Sergio ArribasSergio Arribas Calvo takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
assist: Adrián Embarba
Goal! Sergio Arribas Calvo scores to make it 1-1, assisted by Stefan Džodić.
Nicolas Melamed Ribaudo takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Camara Ousmane takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Nicolas Melamed Ribaudo comes on for Jon Morcillo.
Thalys Gomes De Araujo is on, and Miguel De la Fuente is off.
Marc Olivier Doue is on, and Ronaldo Pompeu da Silva is off.
Fabrizio BrignaniFabrizio Brignani takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
A left-footed shot from Barri is blocked.
Fabrizio BrignaniFabrizio Brignani takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
The first half ends with a score of 1-0.
Fabrizio BrignaniFabrizio Brignani takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
Goal! Fabrizio Brignani scores to make it 1-0.
Adam Jakobsen receives a yellow card.
Yellow card shown to Barri.
Miguel De la Fuente takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Rodrigo Ely's header is saved.
Pablo Santiago takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Pablo Santiago takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Miguel De la Fuente receives a yellow card.
Ronaldo Pompeu da Silva takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Sergio ArribasYellow CardSergio Arribas Calvo receives a yellow card.
Camara Ousmane takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Jon Morcillo receives a yellow card.
Castellón host Almería in the first leg of the LaLiga 2 promotion semifinals, with a place in the final and a shot at top-flight football on the line. The two sides split their league meetings this season, making this a beautifully poised tie with Castellón holding home advantage and the memory of a 2-0 victory over Almería just two months ago.
