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

Two struggling La Liga sides will lock horns at Visit Mallorca Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as 17th-placed Mallorca welcome 18th-placed Cadiz.

Mallorca will enter the contest off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, while Cadiz lost 2-1 to Valencia in the same competition on the same night.

Match preview

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A first-half penalty from Oscar Trejo handed Rayo a 1-0 win over Mallorca in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, with the Pirates being eliminated in the quarter-final stage of the competition.

Mallorca will now switch their attention back to La Liga, where they have not been victorious since the start of December, picking up just one point from their last five matches during a difficult run of form.

Luis Garcia's side, who finished second in the Segunda Division last season, have won four, drawn eight and lost nine of their 21 La Liga matches this term to collect 20 points, which has left them 17th in the table.

Los Bermellones are only two points clear of 18th-placed Cadiz, which is an indication of the importance of this weekend's contest, with a host of teams battling to stay outside of the relegation zone.

Mallorca have only won twice at home in the league this season, and they will be taking on a Cadiz outfit that have been much better on their travels than in front of their own supporters.

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Indeed, Cadiz have the 11th-best away record in La Liga this term, collecting 12 points from 11 matches, with all three of their victories in Spain's top flight this season coming on their travels.

The Yellow Submarine impressed on their return to La Liga last season, finishing in 12th position, but they have found it more difficult this term, with 18 points from 22 matches leaving them in 18th spot in the table.

Like Mallorca, Cadiz also lost in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Valencia, but they have picked up four points from their last two league matches, drawing with Espanyol on January 18 before recording a 2-0 victory away to Levante four days later.

Sergio Gonzalez has won one, drawn two and lost one of his four matches since taking charge of the club, and another victory this weekend could move the Pirates out of the relegation zone.

Cadiz and Mallorca played out a 1-1 draw in the reverse match earlier this season, and four of the last five league meetings between the two sides have finished all square.

Team News

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Mallorca will be without the services of Dominik Greif through injury, while Iddrisu Baba is a fitness doubt.

The home side will also be missing Franco Russo following his red card against Villarreal on January 22, so Aleksandar Sedlar is in line for a start in the middle of the defence.

Head coach Garcia is expected to make changes from the side that started their last league game, with Lee Kang-In and Angel Rodriguez pushing to be involved in the first XI.

As for Cadiz, Anthony Lozano and Fali will both miss out through suspension, while Florin Andone is unavailable for selection due to an injury that he picked up against Valencia.

Head coach Sergio will make changes from the side that started in the Copa del Rey, with Lucas Perez, Salvi Sanchez, Alvaro Negredo, Victor Chust, Varazdat Haroyan and Jeremias Ledesma all in line to feature.

The visitors are likely to line up in a 4-4-2 formation once again, with Negredo and Perez set to feature as the front two, with Ruben Sobrino potentially dropping to the bench.

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Reina; Maffeo, Sedlar, Valjent, Costa; Galarreta, Battaglia; Kubo, Kang-in, Rodriguez; Angel

Cadiz possible starting lineup:

Ledesma; Iza, Chust, Haroyan, Espino; Alejo, Fernandez, Emeterio, Sanchez; Negredo, Perez

We say: Mallorca 1-1 Cadiz

Four of the last five league meetings between these two sides have finished level, including a 1-1 draw in the reverse game earlier this season, and we are again finding it difficult to separate them here, ultimately settling on a low-scoring draw.