La Liga strugglers Almeria welcomed Eibar to the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos for a relegation six-pointer on Sunday.
The home side led 1-0 at the interval courtesy of a eighth-minute effort from Thievy Bifouma.
Almeria then had their second after 68 minutes when Verza found the back of the net from the penalty spot.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
3.31pmAfternoon all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos as Almeria welcome Eibar in what is a key game at the bottom of the table. Both of these teams have struggled in 2015, but a positive result here could act as a springboard...
3.32pm... first and foremost, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news.
3.34pmTEAMS:
ALMERIA: Ruben; Ximo, Trujillo, Mauro, Casado; Verza, Thomas, Espinosa; Zongo, Hemed, Thievy
EIBAR: Irureta; Boveda, Ekiza, Lillo, Vila; Fernandez, Boateng; Manu, Mikel, Abraham; Saul
3.37pmSo there we have it. Almeria are still without injured trio Fernando Soriano, Fran Velez and Michel, while Sebastian Dubarbier is suspended. Head coach Sergi Barjuan has selected an attacking XI here, with Thievy Bifouma joined in attack by Tomer Hemed and Jonathan Zongo, while on-loan midfield pair Thomas Partey and Javier Espinosa keep their spots. Wellington Silva, however, has dropped to the bench.
3.40pmEibar boss Gaizka Garitano, meanwhile, has also selected an attacking XI. Saul Berjon will seemingly lead the line once again, but there are also spots in the final third for Manu del Moral and Mikel Arruabarrena. Ander Capa and Javi Lara have both dropped to the bench, leaving Borja Fernandez and Derek Boateng in the middle of midfield. The suggestions are that we will have an open game here.
3.43pmAlmeria are unbeaten in three home league matches with Eibar – winning twice in the process. All three of those fixtures occurred in the Segunda Division, however. Of course, the two teams have already met in La Liga this season and it was Eibar that recorded a stunning 5-2 victory back in December. The pair have not met in this stadium since October 2005, and that fixture brought a 1-1 draw.
3.46pmAlmeria beat Getafe and Cordoba in back-to-back matches at the start of February, but they have since won just one of their 10 league games. That occurred in their last home fixture, however, when they beat fellow strugglers Granada 3-0. Last time out, the strugglers lost 2-0 at Rayo Vallecano and they are now 18th in the table after Deportivo La Coruna picked up a point at Malaga earlier today.
3.49pmIt is awfully tight at the bottom, however, and there promises to be plenty of twists and turns. Almeria have won seven league games this season and incredibly, five of those have been on the road. On home turf, it has been a bit of a struggle, with the Andalusian club winning just twice and losing seven.
3.52pmEibar, however, have also had a horrid 2015 thus far. A strong run of form at the start of the season left them in the top half of the table and dreaming of a European football, but it has gone terribly wrong in recent months. As it stands, they are out of the relegation zone in 16th position, but are now just three points from the bottom three. It would be an incredible success story if they could remain in the league, but wins at this stage of the season are just vital. The importance of this game cannot be downplayed.
3.55pmEibar recorded their first league win since January earlier this month when they beat Malaga 1-0 on home turf, but they have since lost to Real Madrid and Celta Vigo without scoring. They have won eight league games this season – four at home and four on the road. That said, they have scored just 12 times in their 16 away league matches this term. Kickoff is imminent at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.
3.58pmPREDICTION! It is a massive game at the bottom of the table and I think that Almeria will come out on top. I like the look of their forward-line and Eibar's defence has been poor in recent weeks. It is the type of fixture where the first goal could be just vital. Score prediction: Almeria 2-0 Eibar.
0 minHere we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. Far from a full house inside the stadium, but there is a good atmosphere as the home side get the first half underway.
2 minThe home side have taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes, with Ximo and Mauro both enjoying touches at the back. I expect it will be a tight opening 10 minutes or so here.
4 minEibar are playing with three forwards in the early stages, which is excellent news for the game. Almeria also have plenty of attackers on the field and Zongo is already causing problems with his pace and movement. Neither defence has been particularly good in recent weeks, which should mean goals.
6 minNot too much to report in terms of chances in the opening six minutes, but Almeria are doing most of the pressing, with a deep free kick from Casado causing problems inside the away side's box.
7 minCHANCE! Eibar come close to taking the lead as Trujillo heads towards his own goal, but Ruben manages to push behind for a corner. Almost a spectacular own goal from the defender!
8 minGOAL! Almeria 1-0 Eibar (Thievy)
9 minAlmeria take the lead with eight minutes on the clock as Thievy shows wonderful feet outside the box before drilling one past Irureta. Some strike from the forward, who has been excellent in recent weeks.
11 minAs it stands, Almeria would move out of the bottom three. However, there is still a lot of football to be played this afternoon. It has been an all-action start, with both teams threatening thus far.
13 minAlmeria have a shout for a penalty as Thomas goes down inside the box under a challenge from Vila, but the referee is not interested. Eibar are struggling to cope with the flow of traffic at the moment.
15 minI would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals this afternoon as both teams continue to commit players in the final third. Manu del Moral drives down the right for Eibar before attempting to find Saul, but the striker was in an offside position. The opening 15 minutes have just flown past.
17 minIt has been a decent response from Eibar, with Manu del Moral the latest to try his luck, but his effort was always moving high of the crossbar. The home supporters are in good voice this afternoon.
20 minSAVE! Almeria lose possession in the middle of the park and it presents two shooting chances for Eibar. The first effort from Hemed is blocked, but Mikel's effort brings a fine save from Ruben!
22 minEibar are pressing extremely high at the moment and it is forcing Almeria into a couple of mistakes, which is further adding to the tension. Eibar have come to attack this afternoon, that is for certain.
24 minEibar are on the front foot at the moment as they continue to work the ball into wide areas, but Almeria have been strong defending their own box thus far. Almeria have not really threatened since taking the lead, which is a surprise after the positive start that they made. Still 1-0 to the hosts.
26 minJust a reminder that as it stands, Almeria would move out of the bottom three and join Eibar on 31 points. The visitors are in complete free-fall at the moment and really need to respond in this one.
28 minAlmeria threaten inside the Eibar box as Zongo takes control of a high ball, but the striker loses possession before fouling Boveda. It has all become a little bit scrappy in the last few minutes.
31 minCHANCE! Wonderful chance for Eibar to level as Manu del Moral delivers a super cross towards the far post, but Ximo just nips in ahead of Mikel to head behind. Excellent defending!
33 minNeither side can keep the ball at the moment as attacks continue to break down, but Eibar are looking the more threatening with 33 minutes on the clock. Almeria have not kicked on after their goal.
35 minThe referee has been more involved than he would have liked in the last couple of moments, with both teams guilty of a number of late challenges. Almeria's delivery from set pieces has been poor though.
37 minAlmeria threaten down the right as Thievy runs away from two defenders, but Vila gets back to make an important challenge, before releasing Saul down the other end. Still 1-0 to the home side.
39 minAgain it is good work from Vila as the Eibar left-back finds space in the final third before delivering towards the near post, but Ruben is on hand to claim ahead of Hemed. Good pressure again.
42 minNot too much to report in terms of opportunities as we approach the half-time break here. Eibar boss Garitano will be pretty pleased with the response from his team, but Almeria still have the lead and at this stage of the season, it is the points that matter most. Little over three minutes of the half to play.
43 minCHANCE! Incredible chance for the home side to score a second as Zongo races down the right before sliding a cross into Thievy, but his goal-bound effort is deflected over the crossbar!
45 minThievy has come alive again in the latter stages of this first period, with the goal-scorer causing all sorts of problems with his pace and movement. Eibar remain a threat on the counter, but it does appear that they will trail at the interval. As it stands, Almeria will move out of the bottom three.
45 min+1HALF-TIME: Almeria 1-0 Eibar
4.48pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Almeria leading 1-0 courtesy of an eighth-minute effort from Thievy, who also had an excellent opportunity late in the half. Eibar have had their moments in the final third, but thus far been unable to make the breakthrough here.
4.53pmSTATS! Almeria have just about shaded the possession with 55%, while they have had three attempts, just one of which has been on target. Eibar, meanwhile, have hit the target with two of their three attempts. There has also not yet been a single booking despite some tasty challenges.
4.58pmBENCH WATCH! Almeria boss Sergi might look to alter proceedings in the second period and the Spaniard has plenty of options on his bench, with the likes of Corona, Azeez, Mane and Silva all in reserve. Eibar, meanwhile, have attacking options in the shape of Capa, Lara and Piovaccari.
46 minHere we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Eibar find a route back into this match? It will be tough! The visitors get the second 45 minutes underway here.
47 minNo changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that alterations will occur if the score remains 1-0 Almeria for the next 15 or 20 minutes here.
49 minCROSSBAR! Oh my word! Wonderful chance for the home side to score a second as Zongo sets up Thievy once again, but the latter's effort smashes the crossbar. What an opportunity!
50 minZongo to Thievy has been a feature of this game, especially either side of the interval.
52 minIt has been all Almeria in the early stages of the second period, with Thievy again trying his luck from outside the box, but this time Irureta is down to make the save. Nothing from Eibar since the break.
54 minYou just get the feeling that the next goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital. It is difficult to imagine Eibar coming from two goals behind in this game. Thievy and Zongo are both causing all sorts of problems at the moment with their pace and movement in the final third. It remains 1-0 Almeria.
54 minBOOKING! Casado (Almeria) is booked for a late challenge on Manu del Moral.
56 minAnother half-chance for the home side as Zongo breaks down the right before clipping a cross into Hemed, but Boveda is on hand to clear for a corner. Almeria are really pressing for a second here.
57 minBOOKING! Abraham (Eibar) is booked for a late challenge on Ximo.
60 minSUBS! Eibar make a double change as Lekic and Piovaccari replace Abraham and Mikel.
62 minEibar have the chance to threaten from a set piece following a late challenge from Thomas, but Hemed is on hand to head clear before Almeria break down field. Little under 30 minutes remaining here.
63 minCLOSE! Eibar come close to levelling as Fernandez meets a high ball on the edge of the box, but his effort just moves wide of the post. Wonderful technique and so unlucky there!
65 minEibar have certainly raised their tempo in the last couple of minutes, which is creating an end-to-end feel to the match. You just get the feeling that we have not seen the last of the goals in this one.
65 minSUB! Almeria make their first change of the match as Silva replaces Hemed.
67 minPENALTY ALMERIA!
68 minAlmeria win a penalty as Silva, who has only just come on, goes down inside the box under a poor challenge from Vila. It was clumsy from the left-back, but Silva made the most of the tackle.
68 minGOAL! Almeria 2-0 Eibar (Verza, pen)
69 minIrureta gets hands to Verza's penalty, but it still ends up in the back of the net! Massive goal.
71 minCan Eibar fight back from this position? As it stands, Almeria are moving out of the bottom three and indeed level on points with Eibar, who face a serious fight to remain in the division now.
72 minSAVE! Manu del Moral strikes a powerful free kick towards the top corner, but Almeria goalkeeper Ruben is across to make the save. Eibar really need a quick response here!
73 minAlmeria threaten on the counter attack as they break away with Thievy, who runs past Lillo before going down under a late challenge, but the referee is not interested. Looked a clear foul to me!
74 minSAVE! Almeria goalkeeper Ruben is again called into action to deny Piovaccari, who had struck a powerful effort from inside the box. Eibar are threatening to half the deficit at the moment.
76 minLittle under 15 minutes of football remaining and the home side lead 2-0 courtesy of goals from Thievy and Verza. Eibar are still in the game here, however, as they flood forward in waves.
78 minSilva drives down the right for the home side before flashing a low cross towards Zongo, but Irureta is on hand to make the save. A third Almeria goal would certainly kill the game at this stage.
79 minCHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side to score a third as Verza leads a breakaway before setting up Zongo with a lofted pass, but the striker's effort is deflected just high of the crossbar!
80 minBOOKING! Boateng (Eibar) is booked for a late challenge on Thievy.
80 minSUB! Eibar make their third change as Lara replaces Berjon.
81 minThomas comes close to scoring a third for the home side after meeting a free kick from Verza, but his effort was always moving wide of the post. Plenty happening as we enter the final 10 minutes.
83 minCHANCE! Thievy comes close to scoring his second of the match after finding space outside the Eibar box, but his low effort was always moving wide of the post. He has been such a threat!
84 minBOOKING! Thievy (Almeria) is booked for dissent.
85 minSUB! Almeria make their second change as Verza is replaced by Corona.
87 minEibar are still pressing forward as we approach full-time, but Ruben deals with another high ball and the danger is cleared down field. It appears that it will be yet another defeat for Eibar here.
89 minBOOKING! Silva (Almeria) is booked for a late challenge on Vila.
90 minSUB! Almeria make their third change as Mane replaces Thievy.
90 min+1Plenty of free kicks for Eibar and they continue to deliver into the Almeria box, but it just will not fall for a black shirt and the home side ease the pressure. That has been the story of the second period.
90 min+2We are into the second of five added minutes here. Not sure where the referee has got five from!
90 min+4Just a reminder that victory for Almeria is going to move them out of the relegation zone and onto 31 points with Eibar, who are in free-fall at the moment. Little over 60 seconds of stoppage time to play.
90 min+5Almeria continue to flood forward as we approach full-time, with Zongo still full of running here. The home supporters are in fine voice at the moment, which is not a surprise. This is a massive win.
90 min+6FULL-TIME: Almeria 2-0 Eibar
5.53pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to an end with Almeria running out 2-0 winners in the relegation six-pointer. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!
