Spanish Primera Division: Real Mallorca versus Athletic Bilbao – Preview
Real Mallorca
Currently, 11th in the Spanish Primera Division rankings, Mallorca have been impervious on their home turf but woeful on their travels.
Michael Laudrup’s men have played 11 games on their home turf and out of those eleven games, Mallorca have gained 21 points as they have won six, drawn three, and, lost two. After having played 22 games in the Spanish Primera Division, Real Mallorca have
a total of 29 points.
Last season, Mallorca went unbeaten on their home ground and the only two teams to have defeated Mallorca on their home ground this season are Espanyol and Sporting Gijon.
Mallorca’s best result of the season came against Real Madrid as they held the Spanish giants for a one all draw in their very first match of the Spanish league season.
With a goal difference of negative five at the moment, Mallorca have conceded an astounding number of thirty goals thus far whereas Laudrup’s team has just netted twenty-five goals.
With another home encounter against Bilbao approaching, Mallorca will be looking to capture all three points to step up their efforts to make it to a Europa League qualification spot.
Athletic Bilbao
Presently, 5th in the Spanish league table, Bilbao are pushing for a top four finish, which will grant them an automatic place in the UEFA Champions League qualification stages in the 2011-2012 season.
However, such a task is easier said than done as Athletic are facing strict competition from the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 and Villarreal.
Nonetheless, Athletic Bilbao are spurred on by the presence of Fernando Llorente. The Spanish national team target man has been a talisman for Bilbao as they have accumulated a total of 38 points from 22 games thus far in the 2010-2011 Spanish league season.
Regardless, Athletic Bilbao’s away form has been terrible to say the least. They have gathered 11 points from a total of 10 away matches in the Spanish Primera Division. Defensive frailties have plagued Joaquín Caparrós’s team as they have already conceded
21 away goals in their travels.
Team news
Javi http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ander-Herrera-c5543 will find the back of the net against Mallorca.
Expected Athletic Bilbao line-up: Iraizoz, Iraola, Jose Dominguez, Ezika, Koikili, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-Llorente-c13671
Real Mallorca’s midfield partnership of Gonzalo Castro and Nsue Lopez is set to remain intact against Bilbao as both of them are fit for the match.
Moreover, Mallorca’s top scorer in the Spanish Primera division, Michael Pereira is also fit from the match after recovering from a minor groin strain.
Expected Real Mallorca line-up: Dudu, Cendros, Ruben, Ramis, Kevin, Guzman, Marti, Gonzalo Castro, Nsue Lopez, Michael Pereira, Tejera
Key players
Bilbao will be banking on Llorente once again to fire them through to a win against Mallorca as the competition for the 4th place spot in the Spanish Primera Division heats up.
Llorente was an integral part of Spain’s qualification process for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The muscular striker has also played a major role in La Furia Roja’s EURO 2012 qualification campaign thus far.
For Mallorca, all the responsibility comes down on the shoulders of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gonzalo-Castro-c15105. With a goal in their latest Spanish league encounter, he is their in-form midfielder. Michael Laudrup will be pinning his hopes on the quick feet of the German born Spanish
playmaker.
Prediction
Even though Bilbao have considerable firepower at their disposal, their away form means that Mallorca are the favourites to win this match. Prediction: 2-1 to Real Mallorca.
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