Almeria began life under new coach Gonzalo Arconada with an impressive victory at Athletic Bilbao in their Primera Liga opener on Sunday.
New signing Hernan Pellerano opened the scoring for the visitors in the seventh minute and Alvaro Negredo doubled their tally shortly after the half-hour mark before Juanma Ortiz sealed the victory five minutes into the second half.
Ion Velez pulled one back for Athletic six minutes later and when the hosts were awarded a penalty in the 67th minute it seemed as though a stunning comeback might be the cards.
However, Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves saved Fran Yeste's spot-kick and the visitors ensured a winning start to Arconada's reign.
Arconada admitted before the game that his new side cannot rely on being an unknown quantity anymore, following an impressive first season in the Primera Liga.
But it took Almeria just seven minutes to show that they are still a force to be reckoned with.
One of Athletic's main problems last season was their poor defending from set-pieces and it again proved to be their undoing.
Pellerano went up for a corner and connected perfectly with Ortiz's delivery to plant a header past Gorka Iraizoz.
Just before the half-hour mark Markel Susaeta had the chance to level the scores when he beat Alves to the ball inside the Almeria box.
However, with the goalkeeper committed, the Basque winger could only put the ball wide.
Athletic were to rue that missed opportunity minutes later as a mix-up at the back presented Negredo with the ball on the edge of the area.
With only Iraizoz to beat, Almeria's top scorer last term coolly slotted the ball past the advancing goalkeeper and into the net.
Realizing the need to change things, new Athletic boss Joaquin Caparros made two attacking substitutions at half-time to bring on Velez and Pablo Orbaiz and the hosts pushed hard to claw something back.
However, just as they were starting to build some momentum, the Andalusians extended their lead.
Julio Alvarez led the break from midfield before feeding Ortiz who unleashed an unstoppable right-footed drive from the edge of the area.
Undeterred, Athletic continued to push forward and seven minutes later it was the two substitutes who combined to pull a goal back for the hosts.
Orbaiz's inch-perfect through ball found Velez inside the area and the striker, who spent much of last season on loan at Hercules, placed a shot past Alves.
Athletic then had the chance to reduce the deficit even further when they were awarded a penalty 10 minutes later after Almeria captain Bruno Saltor handled in the area.
However, Francisco Yeste's left-footed strike was too close to Alves and the Brazilian saved comfortably.
That miss seemed to deflate Athletic who had no further real chances on goal.
