Barcelona vs Mallorca Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Barcelona are pushing their way towards another set of domestic trophies as the league leaders now welcome a seemingly resurgent Real Mallorca side at Camp Nou.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – ESPN+
Barcelona preview: Brilliant Barca
Spanish champions Barcelona head into this one on the back of taking a step closer to defending their domestic double. The Blaugrana managed to see off a very competitive Albacete side away from home in the Copa del Rey in midweek, with their opposition having beaten Real Madrid in the previous round.
Hansi Flick’s Barca were utterly magnificent last weekend and really could have racked up double figures against Elche. They instead had to settle for a 3-1 win on the road, with goals scored by Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford.
Mallorca preview: Big win for the Majorcans
Last week, with Real Mallorca slipping into the bottom three ahead of their clash with Sevilla on Monday night, the Balearic Islanders produced an impressive display to dispatch of the Andalusians by four goals to one in Palma de Mallorca.
The visitors, under the management of former Osasuna boss Jago Arrasate, have been struggling throughout the campaign and there has been reported in-fighting within the squad, too, but they do now appear to be set and ready to push away.
Barcelona team news: Raphinha a doubt
Key man Raphinha is a doubt for Barcelona this weekend, while midfield duo Gavi and Pedri remain sidelined for the Catalans alongside Danish defender Andreas Christensen.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Alex Balde; Dani Olmo, De Jong, Fermin Lopez; Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Rashford
Unavailable: Christensen (Injured), Gavi (Injured), Pedri (Injured)
Questionable: Raphinha (Injured)
Mallorca team news: No need to change
There are no reasons for the Majorcans to change after their emphatic win last week, with Marash Kumbulla working his way back after a minor hamstring injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Leo Roman; Pablo Maffeo, David Lopez, Valjent, Johan Mojica; Omar Mascarell, Costa; Asano, Sergi Darder, Jan Virgili; Muriqi
Unavailable:
Questionable: Kumbulla (Injured)
Barcelona vs Mallorca prediction
It has been a difficult few months for Mallorca but Monday will give them hope. It will also give them belief around the squad, too, because top scorer Vedat Muriqi, who is on 15 goals and often viewed as the ‘one man team’, only notched a penalty there and so it was a team effort. That said, even with their newfound confidence and apparent fluency, this is a major step up and Barcelona will be expected to win quite comfortably.
Barcelona vs Mallorca tip: Barcelona to win
