Almeria may become the worst team in European top flight history, if they lose their match today against Athletic club Bilbao.
It has always been a debate of which team has been the worst team among Europe’s elite club division. Almeria is now in contention to be the worst team in European top flight history.
Well since 2007-08 Derby county were recorded to be the worst season in the history of Europe’s big five leagues, suffering relegation from the Premier League with just 11 points.
Now, it looks like Laliga flop. Almeria is close to breaking that record with their current run of form.
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Almeria has collected just six points and no wins from their opening 23 games (Laliga is currently on matchday 24), putting them on track for a historically bad season.
Below is the list of worst teams in the European top league history:
- Premier League: Derby County 2007-08 (11)
- La Liga: Sporting Gijon 1997-98 (13)
- Bundesliga: Schalke 2020-21 (16)
- Ligue 1: Lens 1988-89 (17)
- Serie A: Pescara 2016-17 (18)
Almeria is an example that Saudi money may not always save you.
The club is owned by ambitious Saudi entrepreneur, Turki Al-Sheikh. It was promoted to La Liga in 2022 and avoided relegation last season – thanks to a dramatic 3-3 final day draw at Espanyol.
The club invested in the transfer window with some significant signings however, it was enough to save new boss Vicente Moreno who quickly fell out with the club’s hierarchy and was fired after the first seven games yielded just two points.
But how has there performance been during the season?
Funny enough, Almeria have played well against big teams and if not for some questionable refereeing decision coupled with awful defending they should have been able to beat any of the big three Spanish teams.
They dominated away at Atletico Madrid for an hour, but still lost 2-1. Nearly claimed a point at champions Barcelona, but were sunk by Sergi Roberto’s late winner, and held a deserved 2-0 interval lead at the Bernabeu before a wild second half saw Real Madrid pull level with two VAR-assisted strikes and then scored a 99th-minute winner.
According to ‘expected goals‘ data, Almeria shouldn’t even be in La Liga’s relegation zone, never mind the worst team in history.
This is where their problem lies, chance creation is not their problem, but rather poor finishing and irritating defending is what has gotten this team to where they are.
That defeat at Valencia saw that Almeria has matched one of many undesirable records within their grasp: (after a 2-1 defeat to Valencia) the longest winless start to a La Liga season 23 games, tied with Sporting Gijon in 1997-98.
If Almeria do not win their next game at home to Athletic Bilbao on this night, they will be lumbered with the outright record.
It is not the only milestone in play. Another is La Liga’s longest ever winless run, set at 27 games by Levante over the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns. Having failed to win their last three games of last season, Almeria would equal that record with a draw or loss against Bilbao.
Bottomline is that Almeria needs to get three points from somewhere and they have to get it very fast if they are to escape being called the worst team in European top flight history.
