Mallorca vs Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid are in the holiday destination of Mallorca on Monday, but their business is deadly serious: to pick up La Liga points in their relentless pursuit of another league title.
The leaders can make it four league wins on the bounce as they top the table by eight points, while their hosts are in relegation trouble, in 16th place and just two points above the drop zone. So the Estadi de Son Moix will be packed when Madrid come to town and both sets of fans will be desperate for a win, but for very different reasons.
Los Blancos come into the game on the back of a stunning Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain while Mallorca came out on the wrong side of seven goal thriller away to Celta Vigo; and I’m backing the Madrid giants to inflict more pain on Mallorca.
Talking Points
Los Blancos on a high…
Take a look at the latestLa Liga 2022 betting oddsand you’ll see the title is very likely to return to the Santiago Bernabeu in May, and the way Ancelotti’s men put Real Sociedad to the sword last weekend, winning at a canter, you can see why. Luka Modric put in a masterful performance in the 4-1 victory, while hot shot striker Karim Benzema scored his 20th league goal of the season to stay in control of the race for the Golden Boot.
And the French star was at it again on Wednesday as he lifted the roof off the Bernabeu stadium with a 17 minute second half hat-trick after Kylian Mbappe had given PSG a first half lead to make it 2-0 on aggregate to the visitors. The 3-2 aggregate win has launched Los Blancos up to be one of the fancied teams in the Champions League and their chances in that competition increase the further they are ahead in La Liga. Benzema and Eder Militao both picked up minor knocks against PSG but should be fit to start in Mallorca, though midfield maestro Toni Kroos will miss out with a hamstring problem. And there could be returns for both Ferland Mendy and Casemiro who are both available having served their suspensions.
Mallorca on a low…
While Real Madrid come into the game on the back of a thrilling Champions League victory, los Piratas had their hearts broken away to Celta Vigo when Iago Aspas scored a 97th minute winner for the hosts; and now head coach Luis Garcia must pick his side up if they are to earn an unlikely win at odds of 5.22. But with a home record of four wins, six draws and four defeats Mallorca are clearly happier on home turf than away.
And it’s worth remembering that they were promoted in second place in last season’s Segunda Division and are aiming for consecutive campaigns in the top flight for the first time since 2013. Garcia has some enforced changes to make from the team which fought so hard against Celta, with suspensions looming for keeper Manolo Reina, who has remarkably picked up four yellow cards and a red this season, and Argentine midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia. Reina will be replaced by Sergio Rico, on loan from PSG, as the Pirates’ last line of defence while Salva Sevilla is likely to come in for Battaglia. Sevilla is the club’s top scorer with four goals from 18 starts and he could line up alongside Vedat Muriqi who is on loan from Lazio and has impressed in his rare appearances.
History
In terms of the head to head meetings, Real Madrid haven’t had it all their own way, winning 23 of the last 41 games in all competitions, while losing 12 and drawing six.
When the two teams met on Match Day Six Los Blancos gave Mallorca a 6-1 hammering as attacking midfielder Marco Asensio scored a hat-trick, but the last time they met at the Estadi de Son Moix, in 2019, Mallorca ran out 1-0 winners as Lago Junior’s goal knocked Los Blancos off top spot.
Recent form comparisons are quite depressing for the hosts though, as they have lost their last four games while Madrid have won their last four.
Betting Tip
Mallorca fans enjoyed the La Liga 2022 updates on Friday night when the news came in that Atletico Madrid had beaten 18th placed Cadiz, to maintain Mallorca’s two point cushion; and a point on Monday, at SBOTOPodds of 4.17, would be just the job.
But Real Madrid are at a price of 1.51 to take all three points home and they have the best away record in the league, picking up 29 points from 13 games on the road, so I suspect this game is heading one way only, and a 2-0 win for Los Blancos is at a price of 6.56.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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