Real Mallorca and Real Valladolid will square up this Saturday in the 16h round of the 2022/23 La Liga season.
Venue: Visit Mallorca Estadi (Palma de Mallorca)
Key Statistics
Real Mallorca have lost just one of their last five league games (W3, D1).
The hosts have kept two league clean sheets at home this season.
They have scored just 13 league goals this season (same as Valladolid). Only two teams have scored fewer goals.
Real Valladolid have lost their last three away matches
They have lost eight of their past 15 games this season
Real Valladolid failed to score in eight of their last 15 matches this season.
Head to head
Real Valladolid have won the last six head-to-head meetings between both sides.
Latest performances in all competitions
Real Mallorca: W-L-W-L-D
Real Valladolid: L-L-W-L-D
Real Mallorca
RCD Mallorca will look to get back to winning ways when they welcome Valladolid to Palma de Mallorca on Sunday.
The hosts’ hopes of a first top-half La Liga finish since 2012 endured a minor setback last time out, as they ended 2022 with a dour 2-0 loss at Getafe. That result played its part in heightening the potential for drama in the ongoing battle for a top-ten berth, with just two points separating the team in 10th from 15th going into the New Year, a cluster that also includes Valladolid.
Having recorded a shock 1-0 victory over Atlético Madrid in their most recent home outing, Mallorca will fancy their chances of finishing in the top half. But their pursuit of the feat will probably be defined by small margins and high tension.
Notably, none of their home games this term have separated the sides by more than a goal (W2, D2, L3), while both Mallorca wins saw them land fewer shots on target than the day’s visitors.
Possible Mallorca starting line-up
Predrag Rajković, Pablo Maffeo, Antonio Raíllo, Franco Russo, José Manuel Arias Copete, Jaume Costa, Dani Rodriguez, Iddrisu Baba, Rodrigo Andres Battaglia, Kang-in Lee, Vedat Muriqi.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Real Valladolid
Like Mallorca, Valladolid also lost their own end-of-the-year game as they were beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid.
However, given their record in this fixture, they still come into this tie as the favourites. The visitors have won each of the last six head-to-heads with Mallorca. They will leapfrog their hosts with a victory here to reignite their own hopes of a top-half finish.
However, that is something they’ve never experienced in three prior La Liga seasons faced as a newly-promoted team this century. And given the Pucela currently have more points than they did at the same stage in just one of those campaigns, that record could be set to continue.
But at least Valladolid have never been relegated as a newcomer since the turn of the century. So their five points cushion from the bottom of the table seems reasonable enough to see them finish in the La Liga places.
But to ensure they don’t slip, they must improve their pre-Christmas La Liga away form (W1, D1, L5). Those five defeats also form the bulk of an unfortunate streak where Valladolid have lost on each of the last seven La Liga road trips to see them concede first.
Possible Real Valladolid starting line-up
Jordi Masip, Iván Fresneda, Joaquín Fernández, Zou Feddal, Lucas Rosa, Roque Mesa Quevedo, Monchu, Álvaro Aguado, Ivan Sanchez, Sergi Guardiola, Óscar Plano.
Injured: Jawad El Yamiq, Sergio Escudero
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Javi Sanchez, Sergio León Limones
Odds
Prediction
Mallorca 2-2 Real Valladolid
