Real Madrid vs Real Mallorca preview - Home comforts for Real - 7M sport

Real Madrid vs Real Mallorca preview - Home comforts for Real



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Posted Sunday, January 23, 2011 by PA

Real Madrid vs Real Mallorca preview - Home comforts for Real

Real Madrid will attempt to end a mixed week on a high note when they welcome Real Mallorca to the Bernabeu, where the Spanish giants have won their last 18 competitive fixtures.

On the pitch, Madrid experienced both good and bad results over the last seven days after following up their potentially costly 1-1 draw with bottom club Almeria in La Liga with a 1-0 midweek victory over bitter rivals Atletico that secured their place in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.

There have also been off-field distractions, with speculation about coach Jose Mourinho`s long-term future at Madrid as well as the club`s pursuit of former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy as a possible replacement for the injured Gonzalo Higuain.

With no fresh developments in their hunt for attacking reinforcements, the visit of Mallorca could offer Karim Benzema another chance to stake his claim for the centre-forward position.

The Frenchman has struggled to impress since his big-money move from Lyon in the summer of 2009 and, despite Madrid's dearth of strikers, he started both matches this week on the bench.

Benzema showed his potential with two hat-tricks in December, but Madrid playmaker Kaka believes the 23-year-old needs to do more.

The Brazilian said: "He is a great forward, but he sometimes isn't completely involved in the game. I think he could do a little more and that`s what the people expect. But we see his quality in training. He can be an important player for Real Madrid but it depends on him."

Madrid fell four points adrift of Barcelona at the top of the standings following their disappointing draw at Almeria and they know they can ill afford another slip-up against Mallorca, who travel to the Spanish capital for the second successive match following Monday`s trip to Atletico.

Michael Laudrup`s men lost that game 3-0 and dropped to ninth place in the table, three points behind sixth-placed Atletico and the European places.

Looking ahead to the match and his side`s chances of ending Madrid`s long winning streak at the Bernabeu, Mallorca striker Pierre Webo said: "We have to have a perfect game and for them to be very bad. I hope that they will be tired after the game against Atletico."



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