Alaves vs Mallorca Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
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THE FACTS
When is Alaves vs Mallorca on and what time does it start? Alaves vs Mallorca will take place on Saturday 24th February, 2024 – 17:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Alaves vs Mallorca? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Alaves vs Mallorca on in the UK? Alaves vs Mallorca will be televised live on LaLigaTV, but La Liga matches are also televised occasionally on Viaplay Sports and ITV
Where can I stream Alaves vs Mallorca in the UK? Alaves vs Mallorca can be streamed live on Viaplay, while ITV matches can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
ALAVES
Coming into the New Year, there were suggestions that Deportivo Alaves were considering sacking manager Luis Garcia Plaza. Despite being clear of the bottom three being a good result after promotion last season, there were concerns over off-field issues but he almost immediately enjoyed three successive victories to ease those immediate issues.
The Basque club, though, have now drawn two and lost one of their subsequent three matches to bring the pressure back onto the manager. They did earn a creditable point with a goalless draw against Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin last weekend. An issue for Alaves has been a lack of goals throughout the campaign, notching just 24 times in 25 matches.
MALLORCA
Javier Aguirre remains in charge of Real Mallorca but his style of football is extremely reactive as he is tasked with producing a side simply capable of avoiding the drop in La Liga. They do, though, have the distraction of the second-leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final with Real Sociedad at the Anoeta in midweek, following this one.
The visitors come into this one on the back of a defeat in the league against the aforementioned Real Sociedad with Mallorca taking a third-minute lead but then Mikel Merino scored a 93rd minute winner for La Real with the Balearic Islanders being reduced to nine men in that match as a result of both Antonio Raillo and Siebe van der Heyden being sent off.
THE TEAM NEWS
ALAVES
There is just one injury concern for Alaves this weekend as defender Aleksandar Sedlar remains unavailable with an ACL injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Sivera; Gorosabel, Abqar, Marin, Lopez; Guevara, Blanco; Sola, Guridi, Rioja; Samu
UNAVAILABLE: Sedlar (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
MALLORCA
Real Mallorca will be without three key defenders for this weekend as Antonio Raillo and Siebe van der Heyden are out suspended, whilst Pablo Maffeo is sidelined through injury.
PREDICTED XI (5-3-2): Rajkovic; Gonzalez, Valjent, Copete, Nastasic, J. Costa; Sanchez, S. Costa, Rodriguez; Larin, Muriqi
UNAVAILABLE: Raillo (Suspended), Van der Heyden (Suspended), Maffeo (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
This one is unlikely to be one for the neutral or for the purist. It would appear extremely unlikely that either of these sides, who play agricultural football under Luis Garcia Plaza and Javier Aguirre to put it politely, will get relegated this season but both are in the bottom-half and have been difficult to watch. A low-scoring encounter is to be expected but Alaves could well be the team to back, given their home advantage and the fact that Mallorca are playing in the cup in midweek and could well be distracted.
TIP: ALAVES TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
