Almeria vs Real Madrid preview - Ancelotti hopes to end year on high

Posted Friday, December 12, 2014 by PA

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is looking to cap a "fantastic year" on a high note as the Spanish giants go in search of more wins, more silverware and more records in the coming weeks.

Madrid already have the Champions League and Copa del Rey titles in the bag from the end of last season and have the chance to add a maiden Club World Cup title to their 2014 collection this month.

And if Madrid do come back from Morocco victorious then they could also be within touching distance of another extraordinary achievement - breaking the world record for successive victories.

Ancelotti's troops claimed a Spanish-record 19th straight win in all competitions with their 4-0 midweek mauling of Ludogorets, and they are now just five triumphs away from matching the world-leading mark, set by Brazilian outfit Coritiba in 2011.

Madrid can move to within two wins of that tally if they can see off managerless Almeria on Friday night, and then defeat both their opponents in the Club World Cup to bring the curtain down on the calender year.

The European champions would then have to wait until 2015 to try to break the record, but it would be brave to bet against them on current form.

Ancelotti, whose side have scored 71 goals during their winning streak while conceding just nine, said: "The record is important, because it says that we're doing things very well. It hasn't brought us any silverware, but it has given us a lot of confidence.

"It tells us the work we have to do to do well on the pitch. Coaching this team is the source of pride, not the record."

The Italian added of the last 12 months: "It has been a fantastic year for Real Madrid and we want to round off our La Liga fixtures with a win. With everything the team have done in 2014, I'd give them a high mark out of 10."

Next up for Madrid is a trip to lowly Almeria, where anything other than an away win would be a major upset.

Almeria have taken just two points from their last eight league games to drop into the bottom four, and on Tuesday they parted company with coach Francisco Javier Rodriguez and placed B team coach Miguel Rivera in caretaker charge.

Ancelotti, though, believes the sacking could make Almeria more of a threat.

He said at his pre-match press conference: "Almeria will play with intensity and will be more dangerous because of this week's change of coach.

"Every time a club changes its coach, the players have more responsibility."

Almeria's poor run has left them level on 10 points with the three teams in the relegation zone, but captain Corona is confident of better times ahead.

"We must isolate ourselves from the situation and not allow anything to affect us. We need to focus on Real Madrid, " he said.

"We're determined and capable of being able to turn things round, and we're going to fight for that with all our strength."

Madrid are missing Sergio Ramos, James Rodriguez, Luka Modric and Sami Khedira for the trip south, while Almeria have Verza and Mauro dos Santos available again.