Mallorca-Betis..and I still hate Barca

By: Jeremy | March 6th, 2009

Ultimately I can bitch all I want that the Copa semi didnt go our way, but the bottom line is that we still lost. Nothing else really matters but maybe Barca fan can admit they were really afraid of losing their place in the final. Despite the result, it was good to see the arrogant team from Barcelona, thinking they were just going to come to Palma and destroy us, actually have to struggle and sweat to make the final.

For all the heart we showed, it is our fault for losing this game. Barca didnt do anything. We go up 1-0 on a great strike from Castro and then Barca is put down a man and in the following pk, Marti blows it. Ultimately what wins these games are just one or two decisive events and the good teams take advantage of their positive situations while the bad ones on the whole do not. Marti missed ours and you almost knew that was the end when he did. The idiot simply needed to make that kick. Despite still being a man up, we still couldnt get the equalizer and then Josemis red card brought things even and killed the game from there. Messis goal was an afterthought as we were spent emotionally and physically in a 1-1 draw.

This whole game was just another reason I hate Barca. The arrogance that a match is a gimme despite playing so poorly recently is just something I hate to see from a big team. It would have been some kind of justice if we could have won that game but props to the players for making a real effort when the league is still a problem when it comes to surivival. It was a great run, but we must now get back to business and that is a home game against Betis, a direct relegation rival who like many of our recent opponents, is just finishing their run against the big four.

While the players may be frustrated and tired from the midweek game, they have to feel confident in their recent play that has really brought them from a serious relegation problem to some level of comfort that they can emerge from this up and down year both on and off the field with a place in LaLiga for next year. A home game against a direct rival is a must win, even if the midweek game may cause a bit of a let down.

Betis is a team I know very little about. I know they used to have Joaquin and I thought he should have stayed with them as some players you just identify with certain clubs. They are coming off their run of tough games with better results then most. Despite getting thumped by Madrid, they beat Sevilla on the road, and had draws with Barca and Villarreal. A nice run of results and they have to feel that Mallorca is an easier game against a tired opponent for a must needed three points. That is what some other clubs thought as they came off the games with the big four. Sitting on 27 points, the same as us, and finished with the big games, they have to feel they can reach safety despite their run of poor form.

I am assuming Aduriz will get the start and play the full 90 this weekend after getting limited minutes on Wednesday. He is going to have to bring some offense as Navarro will be missing from the backline and a tired group of players will be prone to letdowns more so then normal. We have won three games in a row in the league 1-0 and we want to keep that streak going to further solidify our place in the league for next year. This is a game we have to get being at home. However, with all the issues that exist for both clubs, and considering Betis being on a decent run of form themselves, a tie would not be a bad result for either club.

Prediction

Mallorca 1-1 Betis