MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 12:16:02| >> :120:3949:3949:
[monks data]
Mallorca logo
La Liga | Gameweek 20
Feb 5, 2023 at 1pm UK
Estadio Iberoamericano 2010
Real Madrid logo

Mallorca
1 - 0
Real Madrid

Nacho (13' og.)
Costa (61'), Ndiaye (72'), Ruiz de Galarreta (80'), Maffeo (87'), Raillo (90+2')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Junior (44'), Ceballos (45+2'), Valverde (64'), Modric (81'), Mariano (90')

Preview: Mallorca vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's La Liga clash between Mallorca and Real Madrid, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Real Madrid will be bidding to move to within two points of leaders Barcelona in the La Liga table when they make the trip to Mallorca on Sunday afternoon.

Los Blancos will enter the contest off the back of a 2-0 victory over Valencia on Thursday night, while Mallorca were last in action on January 28, suffering a 2-0 defeat to struggling Cadiz.


Match preview

Vedat Muriqi celebrates scoring for Mallorca on September 11, 2022© Reuters

Mallorca finished 16th in La Liga last season after securing a return to the top flight by claiming second in the Segunda Division, and they are bidding to make it back-to-back top-flight campaigns for the first time since 2013.

The Pirates have had a strong season to date, picking up 25 points from their 19 matches to sit 10th in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone, while they are only four points off seventh-placed Rayo Vallecano.

Mallorca are actually one of the lowest scorers in the league this term, having found the back of the net on just 15 occasions, but they have been strong defensively, conceding only 18 times, which has allowed them to sit in the middle of the division despite their problems when it comes to scoring.

Javier Aguirre's side will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Cadiz last Saturday, and they have now lost three of their last four matches in all competitions during a disappointing run.

Mallorca's home form this season will need to be strong if they are to push for a top-half finish, and they have collected a respectable 14 points from nine matches in front of their own fans, but the team have lost each of their last four La Liga matches against their opponents this weekend.

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring their first goal with Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde, Eder Militao and Nacho on January 22, 2023© Reuters

Real Madrid, as mentioned, recorded a 2-0 victory over Valencia on Thursday night, with the reigning champions scoring second-half goals through Marco Asensio and Vinicius Junior.

The win moved Los Blancos onto 45 points, five points behind leaders Barcelona on the same number of matches (19), but they will have the chance to cut the gap to two points at the end of this match, as Xavi's side are not in action until later in the evening against Sevilla.

Carlo Ancelotti's team do not have much room for error at the moment due to Barcelona's form, and they will be bidding to record their 15th La Liga victory of the campaign on Sunday afternoon.

Real Madrid have the second-best away form in La Liga this term, picking up 24 points from their 10 matches, but both of their losses in Spain's top flight in 2022-23 have come on their travels, with Rayo Vallecano and Villarreal beating them in November and January respectively.

Los Blancos will take part in the Club World Cup next week, before returning to league action against Osasuna on February 18, which comes three days before a trip to Liverpool for the first leg of their last-16 Champions League contest, so it is a key period of the campaign for the club.

Mallorca La Liga form:


Mallorca form (all competitions):


Real Madrid La Liga form:


Real Madrid form (all competitions):



Team News

Karim Benzema in action for Real Madrid on October 5, 2022© Reuters

Mallorca will be missing Jose Copete through suspension for this match, with the defender picking up a yellow card in the team's 2-0 defeat to Cadiz last time out.

As a result, Giovanni Gonzalez could come into the back three, but the home side have not reported any fitness concerns, so Aguirre has a strong squad to choose from.

Tinotenda Kadewere made a positive impression off the bench against Cadiz and could now come into the starting side, with Lee Kang-in and Vedat Muriqi also set to feature in the final third of the field.

As for Real Madrid, Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy will again definitely be absent, while Eder Militao and Karim Benzema are out with the problems that they picked up against Valencia.

Eden Hazard is also missing from the squad due to a muscular issue, but Toni Kroos is included despite also picking up an injury against Los Che on Thursday night.

David Alaba should return from a calf problem, with the Austria international set to feature alongside Antonio Rudiger in the middle of the back four.

Dani Carvajal is expected to return to the starting side after featuring off the bench last time out, while the same could also be said for Aurelien Tchouameni.

Federico Valverde may also be back in the starting XI, with the Uruguay international potentially featuring in midfield, as Asensio impressed on the right against Valencia.

Mallorca possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Gonzalez, Raillo, Valjent; Maffeo, Ruiz de Galarreta, Sanchez, Costa; Kadewere, Muriqi, Kang-in

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga; Valverde, Tchouameni, Modric; Asensio, Rodrygo, Vinicius


SM words green background

We say: Mallorca 1-2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid know that they cannot afford many dropped points due to Barcelona's form, and although Mallorca are more than capable of picking up a positive result, we are expecting Ancelotti's side to navigate their way to what would be a hugely important three points in this match.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Away Win:data


ID:505833:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect14575:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Mallorca vs Real Madrid

Mallorca
11.9%
Draw
8.8%
Real Madrid
79.2%
159
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Karim Benzema celebrates scoring for Real Madrid on August 10, 2022
Read Next:
Ancelotti hopeful Benzema, Modric will "retire at Real Madrid"
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!