Preview: Mallorca vs. Levante - prediction, team news, lineups

Mallorca are running out of time to save themselves from La Liga relegation as they prepare for Thursday's visit of mid-table Levante.

Los Bermellones have won just one of their last seven games and are six points adrift of safety, while Levante enter this game sitting 14 points better off in 12th.

Match preview

Mallorca revived their slim survival hopes with a 5-1 victory over Celta Vigo last week - Ante Budimir helping himself to a couple of goals - but they failed to build on that win.

Friday's 3-0 loss at the hands of Atletico Madrid was another nail in the coffin for Vicente Moreno's side, with a six-point deficit to make up and just four games remaining.

A trip to Sevilla aside, Mallorca have some pretty favourable fixtures to see out the season, taking on three sides in mid-table with little left to play for on the face of it.

That is a category Levante fall into as they are 14 points above the relegation zone and 10 points off a European spot with 12 points on offer.

The Granotas have drawn back-to-back matches - against Real Valladolid and Real Sociedad - and have lost only one of their last eight matches.

© Reuters

After losing five straight games on the road between January and February, Levante are unbeaten in their three away matches since returning to action last month.

A charge for the top six is out of the question, however, and it is now a case of jostling for position in the bottom half of the division.

That is a luxury Mallorca would love to have, of course, as they go in search of their first back-to-back home wins since last October.

Three points on Thursday, coupled with the sides above them dropping points, and Moreno's men just may yet be in with a shot of pulling off the great escape. Mallorca's La Liga form: LDLLWL

Levante's La Liga form: DWLWDD

Team News

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Budimir, who is Mallorca's highest scoring player in a single La Liga season since Aritz Aduriz in 2009-10, returns from suspension for Thursday's match.

Juan Hernandez is expected to retain his place up top, so it may be Aleksandar Trajkovski who makes way for the visit of Levante.

The hosts will also welcome back Martin Valjent after his suspension, with Aleksandar Sedlar the favourite to drop out of the backline.

As for Levante, Enis Bardhi has served a ban and should slot into midfield in place of Jose Campana.

Sergio Postigo is doubtful with a hip problem picked up against Sociedad, meanwhile, so Rober Pier may get the nod alongside Ruben Vezo.

Winger Ruben Rochina has scored in his two La Liga games against Mallorca - one for Real Zaragoza in 2013 and the other for his current club in the reverse fixture this season.

Mallorca possible starting lineup: Reina; Pozo, Valjent, Raillo, Gamez; Rodriguez, Sevilla, Baba, Kubo; Budimir, Hernandez

Levante possible starting lineup: Fernandez; Coke, Vezo, Pier, Tono; Hernani, Melero, Radoja, Bardhi; Marti, Leon

© Sports Mole / SM

We say: Mallorca 1-1 Levante

Mallorca are unbeaten in their last five home league meetings with Levante, winning four of those. The visitors have drawn four of their seven matches since the restart and we are backing another stalemate in Thursday's clash at Estadi de Son Moix.