Sevilla-Mallorca

By: Jeremy | May 8th, 2009

I never wanted a game not to mean anything, but this was the game I looked at as a Mallorca fan and prayed we did not need a result to meet our seasons objectives. With all the new players and the bad start, the objective has been survival for this year. For the longest time, that was a worry as it seemed in the winter we were headed down. But that is why you play a whole season and give thanks to the schedule makers that we get the big four the final four weeks of the season and we get to play our rivals just after they come off their run of big four matches.

Mallorca sits in 9th place at 45 points after a strong run of wins and a great second half performance. With relegation assured and europe out of the question, we can look back at what ifs and wonder why we cant start as strong as we finish. This is two years in a row we have to be kicking ourselves for not making europe. Whats done is done however and we begin our run of four games that mean nothing to us and I would expect us to play like it.

For Sevilla, they are solidly in the Champions League spots and in a league with Barca and Real Madrid, finishing third is a great achievement. With work needing to be done to keep their spot ahead of Valencia and Atletico, they have to like their final four games which includes us, Depor, Osasuna, and Numancia. This shows how well they have played overall and they should finish strong and get third place. When your goal is europe you cant lose points as easily and Sevilla has played solid, and capitalized on Atletico and Villarreal giving away too many points. That being said, they cannot let up and Mallorca is dangerous.

Mallorca surely wants to keep winning and will head to Sevilla to give their best. However, there has to be a lull after such a great run and the team will be more relaxed and calm because they are now safe. I also think Manzano will give a run to some players we dont see very often. While this relaxed atmosphere could lead to some quality play and maybe a surprise result, considering who we are playing, the fact it is on the road, and our own mindset, I dont expect anything.

While any team wants to continue to win, we could win out and it wont change the fans concerns which is who will be back next year and what will be done to evaluate and keep the proper talent before we discuss bringing others in. If these last four games can be used to help with that and management focuses on getting the team together for next year, I dont care if we lose 5-0. Luckilly we have survived and the team should have learned what needs to be done to be ready at the beginning of the season so if we have a second half like we have had the past two years, we are talking about europe, not the fact we survived another year.

Sevilla will do what it needs to do and should get the result this weekend in what will likely be a very boring game.

Prediction

Sevilla 3-1 Mallorca