Villarreal vs Mallorca Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
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THE FACTS
When is Villarreal vs Mallorca on and what time does it start? Villarreal vs Mallorca will take place on Saturday 20th January, 2024 – 15:15 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Villarreal vs Mallorca? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Villarreal vs Mallorca on in the UK? Villarreal 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 Villarreal vs Mallorca in the UK? Villarreal vs Mallorca can be streamed live on Viaplay, while ITV matches can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
VILLARREAL
Marcelino is Villarreal’s third permanent manager of the campaign after both Quique Setien and Pacheta were sacked earlier this season but the former Olympique de Marseille and Valencia boss is coming under pressure, too, as the Yellow Submarine languish in the bottom-half of the table ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures.
They come into this one on the back of a 3-0 hammering at the hands of an impressive Las Palmas side, last weekend, as they continue their poor form. Villarreal have managed just two victories in their last nine matches across all competitions with those wins both coming in fortunate circumstances against Rennes and Celta Vigo.
MALLORCA
Under the management of Mexican boss Javier Aguirre, Real Mallorca have once again enjoyed a season of making themselves difficult to beat but the Balearic Islanders’ lack of progressiveness or proactivity means they have struggled to get over the line with only three victories in their 20 La Liga matches so far this season.
The visitors do come into this one on the back of a dramatic defeat of Tenerife in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey in midweek. Cyle Larin scored the winner in that game in the final minute of extra-time and they have suffered just one defeat in their last ten matches across all competitions with that one loss coming by a goal to nil at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid.
THE TEAM NEWS
VILLARREAL
Aissa Mandi remains unavailable for Villarreal as he plays for Algeria at AFCON, whilst other defenders, Raul Albiol and Juan Foyth, are also unavailable.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Jorgensen; Altimira, Bailly, Cuenca, Alfonso; Akhomach, Comesana, Parejo, Baena; Gerard, Morales
UNAVAILABLE: Mandi (International duty), Albiol (Injured), Foyth (Injured), Pino (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Suarez (Injured)
MALLORCA
Giovanni Gonzalez is out suspended for this weekend and there are other defensive injury issues with both Pablo Maffeo and Martin Valjent unavailable.
PREDICTED XI (5-3-2): Rajkovic; Sanchez, Van Der Heyden, Raillo, Copete, Lato; Morlanes, S.Costa, Rodriguez; Larin, Abdon
UNAVAILABLE: Gonzalez (Suspended), Maffeo (Injured), Valjent (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Muriqi (Injured)
THE PREDICTION
Not many would expect either of these teams to truly be dragged into the relegation battle this season but they both could do with moving themselves away from any danger quite quickly. Things have not got better under Marcelino and Villarreal have significantly underperformed, albeit the personnel in their squad is a lot weaker than it once was. They face a Real Mallorca side that are extremely difficult to beat and the reverse fixture between these two featured just one goal so a repeat of something like that would appear quite likely.
TIP: UNDER 2.5 GOALS
