Mallorca will be bidding to make it back-to-back victories in La Liga when they welcome Girona to Visit Mallorca Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The home side, who are currently ninth in the table, will enter this contest off the back of a 2-0 victory at Rayo Vallecano, while Girona suffered a 1-0 loss to Celta Vigo last time out.
Match preview
© Reuters
Mallorca are in their second straight season at this level of football, having finished 16th in the table last term, which is their best run in Spain's top flight since 2013.
The Pirates were a top-10 team in La Liga between 2007 and 2012, only finishing in the bottom half on one occasion during that period, but they played in the second tier between 2013 and 2017, while there was also one campaign - 2017-18 - in the third tier of Spanish football.
Mallorca opened their 2022-23 La Liga campaign with a respectable goalless draw at Athletic Bilbao before suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Real Betis on August 20.
Javier Aguirre's side managed to secure their first three points of the season last time out, though, beating Rayo 2-0 in the Spanish capital courtesy of goals from Vedat Muriqi and Lee Kang-in.
Mallorca have won their last two league matches against Girona, which both came in the Segunda Division, while they have only lost one of their last four encounters with their opponents in this contest.
© Reuters
Girona, meanwhile, secured a return to La Liga for the first time since the 2018-19 season through the Segunda Division playoffs last term.
The White and Reds finished sixth in the regular season, before beating Eibar and then Tenerife to ensure that they would return to the top level of Spanish football following a three-year absence.
Girona opened their 2022-23 campaign with a 1-0 defeat at Valencia on August 14 but managed to record their first win one week later, beating Getafe 3-1, with Cristhian Stuani among the goalscorers for the hosts.
Michel's side will enter this match off the back of a defeat, though, going down 1-0 to Celta on August 26, and they are currently in 13th position in the table on three points.
Girona will know that they are up against it when it comes to staying in the top flight this season, and these are the type of matches that could determine whether Gironistes can avoid relegation.
- D
- L
- W
- L
- W
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Mallorca are again expected to be without the services of Angel, Dominik Greif, Iddrisu Baba and Amath Ndiaye for the contest with Girona.
The home side did not pick up any fresh issues in their two-goal success at Rayo last time out, though, so it would not be a surprise to see the same starting XI take to the field.
Muriqi and Kang-in were both on the scoresheet against Rayo, and the duo are expected to retain their spots as the front two, with Dani Rodriguez operating in a deeper position for Aguirre's side.
Girona will again be missing Ibrahima Kebe, Borja Garcia and Ivan Martin through injury this weekend.
Ramon Terrats and Yangel Herrera picked up calf and hamstring issues respectively against Celta, meanwhile, so the duo will also be absent against Mallorca.
Samuel Saiz is in line for a midfield role due to the away side's absentees, but the bulk of the XI from the Celta match should keep their spots, with Stuani again likely to be joined by Valentin Castellanos in the final third.
Mallorca possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Maffeo, Valjent, Raillo, Copete, Costa; Grenier, Battaglia, D Rodriguez; Kang-in, Muriqi
Girona possible starting lineup:
Carlos; Couto, Bueno, Juanpe, Gutierrez; Saiz, Garcia, D Lopez, Urena; Stuani, Castellanos
We say: Mallorca 2-1 Girona
Both teams will fancy their chances of causing problems on Saturday, and it should be an open and entertaining contest. Mallorca were excellent against Rayo last time out, though, and we believe that the home side will have enough quality to secure another three points in this contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
