Preview: Mallorca - Malaga

Posted Friday, April 23, 2010 by Goal.com

When los Barralets play at home, it generally means they are good for three points, but can they do enough to defeat the Andalusians, who are fighting for their lives?

Kick Off: Sunday, April 25, 2010. 17:00 CET
ONO Estadi, Palma

Champions League Chasing

Arguably the most intriguing of Sunday’s early kick-offs in La Primera Division pits a Mallorca side who have been so consistently excellent at home this season against Malaga, who are being sucked back into the relegation dogfight at an alarming rate of knots.

From 16 home games this term, Mallorca have managed to plunder an impressive 42 points, making up the vast majority of their 55 mark tally. Had they been stronger away from home, there can be little doubt they would already have a Champions League berth sealed, but with five matches of the campaign remaining, the fourth placed side can look over their shoulders to see Sevilla and to a lesser extent Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao looming large.

“The Champions League depends on us,” coach Gregorio Manzano explained to the press at the beginning of the week. “This team is showing this season, we're overcoming adversity in many ways, and in the fight for Europe.”

On the road there have actually been signs of improvement for the Islanders, and those have manifested themselves in the form of three successive draws. At the ONO Estadi, meanwhile, los Barralets have actually lost two of their last six fixtures, though those defeats came against Sevilla and Barcelona so there isn’t yet cause to panic.

If Manzano’s side are to finish the campaign in the top four, they will have to get back to their best at home. A fortnight ago on familiar terrain Mallorca picked up a 3-2 success against a Valencia side now four points above them in the table, while a 2-0 Monday night success against Osasuna has kept the positive momentum going.

Going To War

Only one point outside the relegation zone, Malaga are in grave danger of tipping into the abyss. With the teams below them suddenly enjoying a purple patch in form, the Andalusians will have to find an extra gear to push away from the bottom three because they stand to be sucked back to the Segunda Division on present form.

Juan Ramon Muniz has seen his side pick up just one win in their last ten matches, and though three of those five have ended in draws, los Boquerones are failing to tread water and cannot maintain such a sluggish pace.

Last weekend they were ideally placed to make a significant move in their quest to avoid relegation when they were paired against Valladolid, but a wasteful performance in front of goal consigned them to a disappointing 0-0 home draw.

Fernando Forestieri was the main culprit for missing opportunities last Sunday, but he has appeared in Marca over the course of the last week urging his side to “go to war” in Mallorca, but to play without feeling pressure. Additionally, the forward wants his team to “work harder, pay greater attention and concentrate more”.

Such a rallying call will be echoed from Muniz in the locker room before Sunday’s match, which isn’t exactly do or die for Malaga just yet, but it’s getting to the stage of the season where points simply have to start coming soon.

FORM GUIDE

Mallorca

WON 2-0 (h) Osasuna (Liga, April 19)

DREW 1-1 (a) Zaragoza (Liga, April 14)

WON 3-2 (h) Valencia (Liga, April 11)

DREW 1-1 (a) Almeria (Liga, April 4)

LOST 1-0 (h) Barcelona (Liga, March 27)

Malaga

DREW 0-0 (h) Valladolid (Liga, April 19)

DREW 2-2 (a) Osasuna (Liga, April 14)

LOST 2-1 (a) Sevilla (Liga, April 10)

LOST 2-0 (a) Zaragoza (Liga, April 4)

DREW 1-1 (h) Tenerife (Liga, March 27)

TEAM NEWS

Mallorca

Chori Castro returns to the Mallorca side after a one-match ban, but injuries continue to haunt Ivan Ramis and Tuni. Neither Mario Suarez nor Julio Alvarez were able to get any pitch-time at all last weekend due to injury troubles, and both have question marks hanging over their fitness.

Probable Starting XI: Aouate; Josemi, Ruben, Nunes, Ayoze; Mattioni, Valero, Marti, Castro; Victor, Aduriz

Malaga

Victor Obinna and Helder Rosario have been restricted to training outside of the first team in recent days and must be considered heavily doubtful to feature in the weekend’s clash. Furthermore, there will be no place in the squad for either Weligton or Manolo, who are both out with injuries.

Probable Starting XI: Munua; Gamez, Gonzalez, Rosario, Mtiliga; Juanito, Toribio; Fernando, Baha, Dudu; Caicedo

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mallorca

Centre-back Ruben is proving quite the goal scoring machine at the moment for los Barralets. The 28-year-old former Real Madrid player has scored the opening goal in each of Mallorca’s last two matches and has three strikes to his name in his last five Liga games. Additionally, his responsibilities have been increased at the back because of Ivan Ramis’ injury.

Malaga

If Malaga are to drive themselves upwards from the relegation zone, it’s likely they will need more production from Nabil Baha, who has registered five times this season. When the French-Moroccan came off the bench to strike twice against Villarreal in March, he seemed set for a big role in the first team, but he has failed to fulfil the promise of his performance in that game and has found the net only once since.

PREDICTION

When Mallorca play at home, especially against comparatively weak opposition, it’s not an unfair assumption to make that they will probably win. Both teams have a great deal to play for in this encounter, and though Malaga will undoubtedly provide spirited opponents, the hosts should have enough to claim another important batch of three points.

Mallorca 2-0 Malaga