Mallorca-Tenerife

By: Jeremy | September 17th, 2009

Week three of the La Liga season returns us back home to Palma to face newly promoted Tenerife who returns to La Liga after toiling away in Segunda B for the past few years. After last weeks win over lowly Osasuna, Tenerife has shown they will try to be a competive team and want to steal some points that others might not expect them to get. That being said this early schedule is a golden opportunity for Mallorca to get off to a good start and create some notice for their team which has been notorious for starting slow.

After an opening win at home to Xeres, Mallorca went on the road and took a point from Villarreal, one of the top La Liga teams. Say what you want about the wet conditions and the multiple missed chances from Villarreal, getting a point in this game is an eye opener and Manzano has to be pleased. As time passes, the new players will only get better and Valero, after a season in the EPL, is looking like he will shine in his return back to the Islanders.

What do I know about Tenerife? Not much. They have a decent forward in Nino and a solid midfielder in Ricardo, but their overall talent is not fitting of La Liga and the should be in the fight to be relegated throughout the year. If they stay up, it is a successful season. This is a team that we must beat at home and anything other then a win cancels out any momentum we gain from the Villarreal game.

Mallorca is still looking for the right mix of players and Manzano will look to find a combination of players that can produce more offense. The defense is a weakness that will likely be that way for the whole season, but how the team does will depend on whether they can score the goals in bunches so trying to find the right combination of Aduriz, Keita and Tuni along with Valero in support will go along way in determining the seasons final place. The early start bodes well for that happening sooner rather then later.

At home Mallorca should win this game. They have the superior talent and the slight edge in momentum even if Tenerife is coming in confident after last weeks home win. Mallorca will start to generate a little notice for itself after this game.

Prediction:
Mallorca 2-1 Tenerife

Prediction results to date 1-1.