European-chasing Mallorca will be bidding to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they continue their campaign with a home fixture against relegation-threatened Espanyol on Saturday afternoon.
Mallorca are seventh in the La Liga table, four points behind sixth-placed Real Betis, while Espanyol occupy 15th, two points outside of the relegation zone.
Match preview
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Mallorca are very much in the mix for a European spot at this stage of the season, with a record of 10 wins, seven draws and 10 defeats from 27 matches bringing them 37 points, which is enough for seventh spot, only four points behind sixth-placed Real Betis.
Los Piratas finished 15th in La Liga last season, while they have not been higher than eighth since 2009-10, so there is plenty on the line this season, and the team will bring a five-game unbeaten run into the contest.
Just one victory has arrived during that period, though, which came at home to Las Palmas in the middle of last month.
Indeed, four of their last five games have ended in a share of the spoils, including a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao last time out, and finding the back of the net has been an issue this season, managing only 26 in their 27 matches.
Jagoba Arrasate's side have picked up 20 points from their 14 home league matches this season, and they will be welcoming an Espanyol outfit that have just one victory to show on their travels in Spain's top flight this term.
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Espanyol's away form might be patchy at best, but they did beat Alaves in their last game on the road on February 22, and the Catalan outfit have only been beaten in one of their last eight league matches.
Manolo Gonzalez's side are 15th in the La Liga table, picking up 28 points from 26 matches, but despite their strong recent form, the team are very much still in the relegation mix, sitting just two points clear of 18th.
Espanyol drew 1-1 with Girona last time out, and they have enjoyed their recent meetings with Mallorca, winning three of their last four encounters in the top flight of Spanish football.
Earlier this season, the Catalan team were 2-1 winners over Mallorca, although the corresponding match between the two sides during the 2022-23 campaign ended in a 1-1 draw.
Espanyol form in 2025 has been impressive considering their struggles in the opening half of the campaign, and they look to be firmly heading in the right direction entering the final stages of the season.
Team News
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Mallorca will be without the services of Copete through suspension, with the defender picking up a milestone yellow card in the draw with Athletic last time out.
The hosts have not reported any fresh injury concerns, but it is unlikely that Robert Navarro will have overcome a hamstring injury in time to be involved in the matchday squad.
Mallorca are likely to switch to a back four for this match, and Copete's absence could open the door for Antonio Sanchez to be included in an advanced midfield area this weekend.
As for Espanyol, Jose Gragera and Fernando Pacheco remain unavailable for selection due to thigh problems, while Pol Lozano is suspended due to the yellow card that he picked up in the draw with Girona.
Edu Exposito is expected to be Lozano's replacement in midfield, but it might otherwise be the same side from the team's last match, with Roberto Fernandez featuring in the final third of the field.
Javi Puado has been an impressive performer for Espanyol this season and will also be in the XI, while in-demand goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who is being linked with Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester United, will continue between the sticks.
Mallorca possible starting lineup:
Greif; Maffeo, Valjent, Raillo, Mojica; Asano, S Costa, Mascarell, Darder; A Sanchez; Muriqi
Espanyol possible starting lineup:
J Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Carreras, Exposito, Gonzalez; Kral, R Fernandez, Puado
We say: Mallorca 1-1 Espanyol
Four of Mallorca's last five league matches have finished 1-1, while two of Espanyol's last three league games have ended in the same scoreline - it is tough to predict either to win with any real confidence taking into account a number of factors, and we are therefore backing another 1-1 on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
