Mallorca-Espanyol
By: Jeremy | October 24th, 2008On the surface this weekends game in Palma seems like an evenly matched game between two teams who both seem like mid table clubs looking to take that next step into contention for the final UEFA Cup slot. With Espanyol on 9 points and Mallorca on 8, and both teams having a lot of turnover from last season, they seem like similar clubs where the home team should feel the pressure to earn a win and is expected to do so.
Get under the surface and you will see that Espanyol has to be considered the better team and is feeling a slight bit of momentum while Mallorca is trying to avoid spiraling downward further after losses in consectutive weeks to Gijon and Betis, both of which were at the bottom of La Liga when Mallorca faced them. Espanyol meanwhile has gone from near the top of La Liga to mid table by gaining only two points in their last four matches. But look at who they played. The big four. While they lost to Barca and Sevilla, they have tied Real Madrid and Villarreal the past two weeks and have to feel a little confidence with those results while Mallorca will see these big games later on in their schedule.
Mallorca has been unable to score goals lately. Whether its the inconsistency of Webo, the injured and underperforming Aduriz, the lack of playing time for both Trejo and Keita, and getting absolutely nothing from Arango offensively, the team is not finding the net. That puts pressure on the defense and as in last weeks game where they gave up a goal in minute one, they cannot seem to respond.
Manzano is still looking for answers and the club faces a tough game, albeit at home, against a team that looks like it can move up in the standings. If Mallorca cant beat Gijon at home or falls flat against bottom Betis, then how will we get points this week? Lets assume Gijon was just a bad game without a full lineup and that an early minute goal in Betis took away all strategy, then maybe we can see points this weekend against Espanyol, who is clearly better then both of the trems we just lost to.
With the team looking for positive results, expect the offense to open up. Arango has made it clear at the weekly press conference that he is desperate to score goals so with a little bit of rest after international duty, maybe he can pick things up a bit. Mallorcas offensive mindset will create chances for Espanyol as well so it should be an entertaining game. Trejo needs to play a full 90 and Aduriz needs to get healthy and earn his money. If they can perform to their talent, we can win this game but I think the results are going to be inconsistent all year so three points is still asking a bit much after the recent performances.
Prediction
Mallorca 2-2 Espanyol
Category: Mallorca Team News
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Comments
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Well, last season it was finish 2-2 if you remember the golaso of Arango. and this is the time for Arango to wake up, he did nothing so far and we really have to hope he will back to himself as soon as posibale.
espanyol are very dangures team with the ex mallorca player luis garcia and tamudo up front. but an important piont is that they lost they star, the Mallorca-born and our ex..the great left winger Riera, and they didnt give any replaces to him at thier left side. i hope Ramis will back to 11 strats togheter with Trejo .oh and its gonnabe the callejon brothers derby..
my Prediction: we gonna win 2-1 from the goals of Varela and Arango.Posted from
Israel
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