Real Mallorca vs Villarreal Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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With an intent to play a more progressive style of football, Real Mallorca have started the campaign with just one defeat in four matches as they now take on a very strong Villarreal side in the Balearic Islands this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 14th September, 2024 - UK – 1:00pm / US ET – 8:00am / US PT – 5:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Real Mallorca vs Villarreal may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
REAL MALLORCA PREVIEW: MALLORCA ON THE MARCH
Last season, Real Mallorca struggled for a lot of the Liga campaign but did reach the final of the Copa del Rey before steering themselves clear of the drop. Javier Aguirre have now departed the club and will be in charge of the Mexican national side with former Osasuna boss Jago Arrasate taking over in Palma de Mallorca.
The Majorcans began their season with a strong and solid 1-1 draw against Real Madrid before they then were left frustrated by the aforementioned Osasuna with a 1-0 loss. After that, though, they took four points from a goalless draw at home to Sevilla before then a win back on the mainland away at newly-promoted Leganes.
VILLARREAL PREVIEW: MARCELINO MASTERPLAN
Former Valencia and Olympique de Marseille coach Marcelino has implemented a fun and entertaining style of football at Villarreal that will have the Yellow Submarine expecting to challenge for the top four or five and UEFA Champions League qualification in La Liga this season.
They started with an entertaining 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid before then scoring two winning goals deep into second-half stoppage-time against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan and then at home to Celta Vigo. In a regional derby against the aforementioned Valencia, Villarreal went into the September international break on the back of a 1-1 draw at Mestalla in which they were down to ten men for over 20 minutes.
REAL MALLORCA TEAM NEWS: NO PABLO MAFFEO
Quite a character and often disliked by opposition fans but crucial for his own side, Pablo Maffeo being unavailable with a muscle injury is a key absentee for Mallorca.
Jago Arrasate has switched the system in the Balearic Islands, moving away from Javier Aguirre’s preferred back five to a more progressive back four system.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Greif; Van der Heyden, Valjent, Antonio Raillo, Toni Lato; Manu Morlanes, Samu Costa; Asano, Dani Rodriguez, Antonio Sanchez; Muriqi
UNAVAILABLE: Javi Llabres (Injured), Pablo Maffeo (Injured), Mateu Morey (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
VILLARREAL TEAM NEWS: IRRITATION FOR MARCELINO
Frustratingly for Marcelino, Senegal international midfielder Pape Gueye will be sidelined for Villarreal this weekend with the Marseille man out suspended for this one.
As well as Gueye, the Yellow Submarine are missing key men such as Juan Foyth, Alfonso Pedraza, Denis Suarez and Gerard Moreno with both Eric Bailly and Nicolas Pepe doubtful.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Conde; Kiko Femenia, Raul Albiol, Costa, Sergi Cardona; Yeremy Pino, Dani Parejo, Santi Comesana, Akhomach; Barry, Ayoze Perez
UNAVAILABLE: Foyth (Injured), Alfonso Pedraza (Injured), Gueye (Suspended), Denis Suarez (Injured), Gerard (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Bailly (Injured), Pepe (Injured)
REAL MALLORCA VS VILLARREAL PREDICTION
Real Mallorca will look to take the game to Villarreal as they will most teams in this campaign and they will probably have benefitted from Jago Arrasate having two weeks with them during the break. They have, though, managed to score just two goals and conceded just two. Villarreal, in contrast, have probably been the most thrilling side in La Liga this year and if anyone can force a fun game out of Mallorca then it may well be them.
REAL MALLORCA VS VILLARREAL TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
