La Liga- Match Preview: Athletic Bilbao versus RCD Mallorca
Athletic Bilbao host Mallorca in what will be the fourth match of the Spanish Primera Division for both the Spanish club sides. It has been a mixed start to the season for both the teams but one of them has had a torrid time in off the field financial matters
and that team is Mallorca.
Despite qualifying for the Europa League through their fifth place finish in the La Liga last season, Mallorca were denied entry into the second tier European competition due to their financial situation. The club has been in dire monetary straits in the
last few years after the club’s ownership changed hands a couple of times. Such inconsistency has seen Mallorca suffer as far as off-the-field matters are concerned but the club has been persistent in its on-the-pitch approach, a way which saw them go undefeated
at their home ground last season.
In their season’s first league game against Real Madrid, Mallorca hosted the Los Blancos at the Iberostar Stadium. Before the match, Mallorca weren’t even given a chance. They were totally written off as a result of their on-going struggle with UEFA and
the matter of their participation in the Europa league but Michael Laudrup’s side gave Real Madrid a tough time and gained a vital opening day point against the Los Blancos.
It was almost equivalent to a win for Mallorca who matched the likes of Ronaldo, Khedira, Ozil, Higuain and Xabi Alonso in the Real Madrid line up. Not only that, the crowd at Mallorca nullified the Jose Mourinho factor as the Portuguese coach had to face
embarrassment due to the opening day draw to RCD.
In their second league match of the season, Mallorca travelled to Real Sporting de Gijón. A loss at El Molinón stadium to Sporting brought Laudrup’s men back to earth and gave them a taste of reality as the Spanish minnows shipped two goals past Mallorca’s
weak defence. Historically, Mallorca have always been much stronger when they are playing on their home stadium and this was again the case as in the last Spanish Primera Division match when they hosted Osasuna and battered them by two goals to nil. In doing
so, Mallorca maintained their hundred percent home record for this season as well.
Gonzalo Castro, Mallorca’s Uruguayan left midfielder will be under the focus for the match. He will be the bearer of all hopes for Mallorca, his form will determine whether Mallorca can get their first away win of the season or not. Athletic Bilbao on the
other hand have also had a mixed start to the season. They won their first match of the La Liga season to the newly promoted Hercules Alicante by a margin of a solitary goal. In their second match of the season, Athletic Bilbao suffered their first defeat
of the Spanish football season to Atletico Madrid; it was a tough match for both the teams which was won by Atletico in the end by a score line of 2-1.
In their latest match, Bilbao travelled to Sporting de Gijon where they only managed to draw two all with the home side. It is expected to be a tough encounter between both the Spanish clubs who are just finding their feet as the Spanish league has just
started to get into its full stride.
In the last season’s corresponding fixture, Bilbao were dealt a stern defeat on their home stadium by Mallorca, who ended up as winners by the score line of three goals to one. Bilbao’s last win in this fixture came in April of 2009, when the Los Leones
won the match by two goals to one.
Athletic Bilbao will be looking towards their start striker, Fernando Llorente for goals in this match it is tough to say who will win this one as Mallorca’s away form as been terrible to say the least. A draw is the most likely result as Bilbao do have
enough ability to hold off Mallorca.
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