Sevilla will be aiming to record just their third La Liga victory of the 2023-24 campaign when they head to Estadi Mallorca Son Moix on Saturday evening to face a struggling Mallorca side.
The visitors have only collected 13 points from their 14 league matches this season, which has left them in 15th position in the table, while Mallorca are 17th, picking up only 11 points from their 15 games in 2023-24.
Match preview
© Reuters
Mallorca finished ninth in Spain's top flight last season, but it has been a tough opening to the 2023-24 campaign for the club, who have only managed to win one of their 15 league encounters.
Indeed, Javier Aguirre's side boast a record of one victory, eight draws and six losses in La Liga this term, with a total of 11 points leaving them in 17th position in the table, only two points outside of the relegation zone.
The Pirates have been the draw specialists in Spain's top flight this season, with their last two league meetings, which have been against Cadiz and Alaves, also finishing level.
However, Mallorca will enter this match off the back of a victory, managing to book their spot in the third round of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 3-0 success over Valle Egues on Wednesday, and the home side will be looking to use that result as a potential springboard.
Los Bermellones are without a victory over Sevilla since March 2013, though, and they lost both La Liga meetings between the two sides last season.
© Reuters
Sevilla finished down in 12th position in La Liga last term, which proved to be their lowest spot since being relegated from Spain's top flight at the end of the 1999-2000 campaign.
Los Nervionenses managed to save their 2022-23 season by winning the Europa League, which saw them book a spot in the group stage of the Champions League, but they have struggled in their section, only picking up two points from five matches, which has left them at the bottom of Group B.
The team's league form has also again been disappointing, boasting a record of two wins, seven draws and five defeats from 14 matches, which has left them in 15th position in the table on 13 points.
Sevilla are without a victory in La Liga since the end of September, but they have only lost one of their last seven in Spain's top flight, with the team sharing the points on the majority of occasions in recent weeks.
Like Mallorca, Diego Alonso's side will enter this match off the back of a victory, securing their position in the next stage of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 2-0 success over Atletico Astorga.
Team News
© Reuters
Mallorca remain without the services of Vedat Muriqi due to an ankle problem, but the home side are otherwise in excellent shape ahead of this weekend's contest.
Dani Rodriguez was suspended for the clash with Alaves, but he is back for this fixture, and the Spaniard should feature in the starting side for the hosts off the back of his goal in the Copa del Rey.
Javi Llabres also scored twice in the cup fixture, and the 21-year-old could now be handed a starting role on Saturday, but Abdon Prats should continue as the centre-forward.
As for Sevilla, captain Jesus Navas is expected to miss the next couple of months due to a severe thigh problem, while the visitors also have a number of other players on the sidelines.
Mariano Diaz, Loic Bade, Suso, Erik Lamela, Marcao and Alfonso Pastor remain unavailable for selection, but the team did not pick up any fresh problems in the Copa del Rey.
There will be wholesale changes from Wednesday's fixture, with Lucas Ocampos, Youssef En-Nesyri, Ivan Rakitic and Juanlu Sanchez among those set to come back into the side.
Mallorca possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Gonzalez, Valjent, Raillo, Costa; Mascarell, Costa; D Rodriguez, Darder, Llabres; Prats
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Dmitrovic; Juanlu, Nianzou, Gudelj, Acuna; Sow, Fernando, Rakitic; Ocampos, En-Nesyri, Lukebakio
We say: Mallorca 2-2 Sevilla
These two sides have drawn 15 times between them in La Liga this season, and we are finding it difficult to pick another result here. Sevilla have just two wins to their name, while Mallorca have only been victorious once, and it would be a surprise if the points were not shared in Saturday's contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
