Match Preview
RCD Mallorca will look to inch further towards safety when they host Real Valladolid at Estadi de Son Moix in the La Liga on Saturday.
Mallorca Match Form
Los Bermellones are stuck in the relegation battle in their first season back in the top flight. After getting promoted via play-offs last season, they are experiencing high turbulence in the La Liga, picking up 18 points from 21 games so far.
Vicente Moreno’s side is currently 17th in the table, temporarily safe from relegation. They lead Celta Vigo by a solitary point while Leganes and Espanyol are further 2 points behind. Looking upward, Valladolid are 4 points ahead while Eibar and Alaves are 5 points in front.
Thus, every game matters for Mallorca if they wish to stay up and home games against similar-placed teams become even more vital. After losing 3-0 to Real Sociedad last time around, Los Bermellones need a much better performance this time around.
Real Valladolid Match Form
Coming to their opponents, Real Valladolid are once again stuck in the bottom-half of the table, after finishing 16th last time around. They find themselves in the same position at this stage of the current season, with 22 points from 21 games.
Thus, the Ronaldo-owned club is 5 points clear of the drop, a decent margin but not safe enough. While Eibar and Alaves are just a point ahead, Levante are a further 3 points ahead.
While a string of good results could propel Sergio Gonzalez’s side towards further safety, it is easier said than done. After losing 1-0 to Real Madrid in the last game, Valladolid will look for nothing less than 3 points from this one.
Team News & Mallorca vs Real Valladolid Prediction
In terms of team news, both teams do not have too many injuries with Mallorca’s Salva Sevilla and the Valladolid trio of Sandro Ramirez, Jose Antonio Caro and Stiven Plaza the only doubts.
Overall head-to-head puts both teams on level terms with Mallorca winning 13 to Valladolid’s 14 in 32 meetings. However, Valladolid are unbeaten in the last 6 meetings between the two, winning 5 of them.
Those 6 games have witnessed 19 goals and this game could see a few goals as well. Looking at recent form, Valladolid are winless in their last 5 league games while Mallorca have won once in the same period.
Neither side is particularly good at keeping a clean sheet, implying both teams will find the back of the net. Finally, looking at their recent head-to-head and form, Valladolid can be expected to pull off a 2-1 away win and boost their survival chances from this one.
Predicted Lineups:
RCD Mallorca Predicted XI: Reina; Gamez, Valjent, Raillo, Agbenyenu; Rodriguez, Febas, Baba, Junior; Hernandez, Budimir
Real Valladolid Predicted XI: Masip; Antonito, Kiko, Salisu, Garcia; Fede, Fernandez, Alcaraz; Michel; Unal, Guardiola
