Almería closes a splendid February

Almería needed to rediscover both its best version and the results in an almost agonizing February after the crisis with which it opened the new year. And those of Rubi, under pressure, have achieved it, including honors. The four consecutive wins have made the rojiblancos achieve something unheard of, such as a full number of victories in the second month of the year. Never before had Almería counted their matches for wins in February, the month in which the team was going down since the arrival of Turki Al-Sheikh.

In 2020 after losing to Elche at home, Guti saw how his Almería beat him before the pandemicdrawing in Soria and against Fuenlabrada and losing at home against Racing and in El Alcoraz and Carranza. Neither was February a year ago good for José Gomes. The cup elimination against Sevilla caused a small pothole, drawing in Fuenlabrada and losing in Leganés and Mallorca, two key games for direct promotion; yes, the UDA made up the results by winning in La Vega de Acá to Las Palmas and Lugo.

The situation has totally changed with Rubi, taking forward the turning point that was the duel against Ibiza (0-1) to later win in Malaga (0-1) and at home against Mirandés (2-1) and Fuenlabrada ( 3-1). February has also served so that the communion with the stands is greater than ever, singing the anthem a cappella for the first time in history, in addition to the massive receptions for the red-and-white bus. Within the green, Almería has recovered the good defensive tone, even approaching his best version, with a Sadiq unleashed: chained four consecutive games scoring, something he had not done before, materializing half a dozen goals and projecting himself to the dozen, in addition to causing two penalties and adding his seventh goal assist. Of course, Rubi left Chumi on the way, down until May, as well as Robertone, another five weeks in the infirmary; besides, he lost Carriço last weekend.

Taking a look at the historical figures, Almería was on the verge of having a full win in February in 2007, 2010 (First Division) and 2019. In the course of the first promotion to the elite, Emery left the goal on track after beating Murcia, Salamanca and Castellón, drawing in Cádiz. Juanma Lillo, for his part, beat Sporting, Atlético and Santander, equalizing at Getafe; while Fran Fernández allowed himself to dream of promotion by drawing in Malaga and beating Numancia and Córdoba (the match against Reus was suspended due to the withdrawal of the Catalan team). On the other side of the coin are February 2003 and 2005: Casuco fell in El Ejido, Salamanca and Valencia (Levante) and lost in the Juan Rojas against Córdoba; Alfonsín did it against Racing de Ferrol (the famous 1-6…) and in Cádiz, Fabri starting off on the wrong foot by losing to Málaga B and Helmántico.