Soccer
Prediction: Barcelona to win 2-0
Best Odds: 5/1
Barcelona and Real Mallorca will lock horns with each other in La Liga this week. The match between Hansi Flick’s side and Jagoba Arrasate’s team will be held at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys and is scheduled to kick off at 8:30pm UK time on Tuesday.
Barcelona
Barcelona did not have the best of times last season, but things have completely changed under head coach Hansi Flick this season. The Blaugrana could end up winning the treble this campaign.
Flick’s side are at the top of the La Liga table at the moment with 73 points from 32 matches, four points ahead of second-placed and defending champions Real Madrid. Barcelona have reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they will take on Inter Milan and will lock horns with Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey.
Barcelona will head into the La Liga match against Real Mallorca at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on the back of 4-3 victory over Celta de Vigo at home in the league. It came after a 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund away from home in Germany in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie – the Catalan giants won the tie 5-3 on aggregate.
Team News:
Barcelona are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation against Real Mallorca. Wojciech Szczesny will be in goal for the home team. Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez and Gerard Martin will be the four defenders. Fermin Lopez, Frenkie de Jong and Pedri will be the three midfielders. Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres will be the three forwards.
Real Mallorca
Real Mallorca are a modest club in Spain that tend to finish in and around mid-table in La Liga. While Los Piratas have on some occasions played in Europe’s major club competitions, they are happy to just be part of the 20-team league.
Mallorca finished 15th in the La Liga table last season and will end up in a much better league position. Jagoba Arrasate’s side are seventh in the La Liga table at the moment with 44 points from 32 matches, eight points off the final UEFA Champions League spot.
Mallorca will head into the La Liga match against Barcelona away from home at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on the back of a goalless draw with Leganes at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix in the league. It came after a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad away from home in La Liga, which followed a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Celta de Vigo in front of their fans in the league.
Team News:
Real Mallorca are likely to line up in a 5-3-2 formation against Barcelona. Dominik Greif will be in goal for the visiting team. Pablo Matteo, Martin Valjent, Antonio Raillo, Copete and Johan Mojica will be the five defenders. Dani Rodriguez, Samu Costa and Sergi Darder will be the three midfielders. Abdon Prats and Cyle Larin will be the two centre-forwards for Mallorca.
Key Factors to Consider
- Barcelona have won 5 of their last 6 La Liga matches.
- Robert Lewandowski has scored 25 goals and given 2 assists in 31 La Liga matches for Barcelona this season.
- Barcelona have lost just 5 of their 32 La Liga matches this season.
- Real Mallorca have won 2 and lost 2 of their last 6 La Liga games.
- Real Mallorca have won 12 and lost 12 of their 32 La Liga games this campaign.
Conclusion
Although Real Mallorca have done well this season, Barcelona are on a roll at the moment and are now favourites to win the La Liga title. While the visiting team will not be pushovers, Barcelona should get the job done comfortably in the end.
Prediction: Barcelona to win 2-0
Best Odds: 5/1
Read MoreJamie Jones