Buzz previews Friday’s La Liga clash between Mallorca and Valencia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Valencia will be aiming to make it three straight wins in all competitions when they head to Mallorca in La Liga on Friday night.
Los Che have overcome Real Betis and Parla Escuela in their last two games in the league and Copa del Rey respectively, while Mallorca will enter the contest off the back of a 3-2 success over Las Palmas in Spain’s top flight.
Match preview
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It did appear that Mallorca would have to settle for a share of the spoils against Las Palmas last weekend, with the home side fighting back to level the scores at 2-2 late on after Dani Rodriguez and Robert Navarro had registered for Jagoba Arrasate‘s side.
However, Johan Mojica had other ideas, with the 32-year-old netting a winner for Mallorca in the 91st minute, and it was an important result for the Pirates, having entered the clash off the back of successive losses to Alaves and Atletico Madrid.
Arrasate’s team are eighth in the La Liga tableboasting a record of six wins, three draws and five defeats from their 14 matches to collect 21 points, which has left them just four points behind fourth-placed Villarreal.
Mallorca are actually unbeaten against Valencia in Spain’s top flight since February 2022, but both league games last season finished level, including a 1-1 draw at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix.
The Pirates have actually been stronger on their travels than at home this season, picking up just nine points from their seven matches in front of their own fans, but Valencia have been the worst performers on the road in La Liga this term.
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Valencia sit 18th in the La Liga table, boasting a record of two wins, four draws and six defeats from their 12 matches to collect 10 points, but they do have two games in hand over the majority of the division.
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a tough season to date for Ruben Baraja‘s side, but they picked up a huge three points against Real Betis last weekend, running out 4-2 winners at Mestalla.
Hugo Duro scored twice, while Cesar Tarrega and Diego Lopez also registered, as Valencia triumphed in their first league game since the end of October, having seen two games postponed due to the devastating floods in Spain.
Valencia were then in Copa del Rey action against Parla Escuela on Tuesday night, booking their spot in the second round of the competition courtesy of a 1-0 success, with Ashes netting the only goal of the contest.
Los Che finished ninth in La Liga last season and will believe that they can push for a top-half position this term despite their early struggles, with their success over Real Betis last weekend potentially being used as a springboard.
Mallorca La Liga form:
Valencia La Liga form:
Valencia form (all competitions):
Team News
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Mallorca will be without the services of Vedat Muriqi on Friday through suspension, with the striker sent off in the clash with Las Palmas last time out, while Abdon Prats, Pablo Maffeo, Toni Lato, Ivan Cuellar and Takuma Asano are all injured.
Cyle Larin missed out against Las Palmas, but head coach Arrasate will be hoping to recover the Canada international in time for this match, with Dani Rodriguez also set to operate in the final third of the field.
Antonio Sanchez and Omar Mascarell are among the options for change, but the pair are likely to continue on the bench.
As for Valencia, Maximiliano Caufriez, Ruben Iranzo, Thierry Correia, Rafa Mir and Mouctar Diakhaby are all out of the contest.
Head coach Baraja could select the same side that took to the field against Real Betis in the league last weekend, with Duro set to continue through the middle.
There were a host of changes to the side for the Copa del Rey clash with Parla Escuela, but there will be a more familiar look to the side here, with Yarek Gasiorowski potentially the only player keeping his spot.
Mallorca possible starting lineup:
Count; Morey, Valgent, Raillo, Mojica; Navarro, Morlanes, S Costa, Darder; D Rodriguez, Larin
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Tarrega, Mosquera, Gasiorowski, Gaya; Rioja, Barrenechea, Guerra, Lopez; Hard
We say: Mallorca 1-1 Valencia
Both La Liga matches between the two sides last season finished level, and we can see another stalemate here. Mallorca have home advantage, but Arrasate’s team will be missing a number of key players, and we are expecting Valencia to be good enough to claim a point on Friday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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