Real Sociedad vs Mallorca Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
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THE FACTS
When is Real Sociedad vs Mallorca on and what time does it start? Real Sociedad vs Mallorca will take place on Saturday 21st October, 2023 – 13:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Real Sociedad vs Mallorca? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Real Sociedad vs Mallorca on in the UK? Real Sociedad 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 Real Sociedad vs Mallorca in the UK? Real Sociedad vs Mallorca can be streamed live on Viaplay, while ITV matches can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
REAL SOCIEDAD
After a few seasons of setting an extremely impressive pace before falling off in the second-half of last season, Real Sociedad managed to finally end up finishing in the top four last year, ensuring qualification for the UEFA Champions League. Now it is Imanol Aguacil’s task to ensure that La Real can balance both Europe’s elite level club competition and a top four tilt in La Liga.
The Basque club are perhaps the most intense pressing side anywhere on the continent, hence their consistent dip in form mid-way through the season. They were beaten 2-1 by Atletico Madrid a couple of weeks ago but have been generally very impressive, once again, suffocating their opponents throughout the early stages of the season.
MALLORCA
Following their promotion to the top-flight in 2021, Real Mallorca appointed Mexican boss Javier Aguirre in the March international break of 2022, with the task of keeping the Balearic Islanders up. He did just that and then built upon it, once again, with a mid-table finish in 2023. The challenge it to keep up that continued improvement, despite a fairly limited style of football.
Mallorca lost key creative spark, Lee Kang-in, to Paris Saint-Germain over the summer but still brought in some excellent additions. They have started the 2023/24 La Liga campaign with just one victory in their opening nine matches, showing a defensive nous with just three defeats but also highlighting their general limitations.
THE TEAM NEWS
REAL SOCIEDAD
Real Sociedad will be without injured on-loan defender, Kieran Tierney, with the likes of Mohamed-Ali Cho and Mikel Merquelanz both doubts for this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Alex Remiro; Traore, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Munoz; Mendez, Zubimendi, Merino; Kubo, Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea
UNAVAILABLE: Tierney (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Cho (Injured), Merquelanz (Injured)
MALLORCA
Real Mallorca are without several key players for this weekend’s trip to the Basque country with Sergi Darder, Pablo Maffeo and Antonio Raillo all out injured.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Rajkovic; Gonzalez, Valjent, Nastasic, Lato; Sanchez, Costa, Mascarell, Rodriguez; Abdon, Muriqi
UNAVAILABLE: Darder (Injured), Maffeo (Injured), Raillo (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
As mentioned, Real Sociedad’s intensity and general pressing tactics lead them to fade away as seasons go on but La Real will have benefitted from a couple of weeks ago with few of their players going away on an international break. Real Mallorca are without three players who would all be key players for their starting lineup so this is a tough test as they travel to the mainland. Given their rest and home advantage, a Real Sociedad victory is the expected outcome for this one.
TIP: REAL SOCIEDAD TO WIN
