| Odds via 22bet | |
| Mallorca vs FC Barcelona | December 3, 2024, 19:00 GMT+1 |
| Mallorca odds | 5.1 |
| FC Barcelona odds | 1.61 |
| Draw | 4.16 |
| Over\Under | Total 2,5: 1.76 / 2.05 |
Mallorca moved up to sixth place with a 2-1 victory over 19th-placed Valencia this weekend. Luis Rioja put Los Che ahead in the 32nd minute with a well-taken penalty, but Cyle Larin levelled the score just before halftime, and Abdón Prats secured the win for Mallorca with a strike in the 81st minute.
This fifth victory marks Jagoba Arrasate’s best-ever start in the league, with Mallorca earning an impressive 24 points from their first 15 games. He previously managed Osasuna and Real Sociedad but never achieved a record like this.
However, December poses a tough challenge for Mallorca, with fixtures against Barcelona, Celta, Girona, and Getafe on the horizon.
Against Valencia, Mallorca were without Muriqi, who was suspended after receiving a red card in their previous match but he is expected to return to the lineup for the clash with Barcelona.
| Recent Form | DLLWW |
| Key Player to Watch | Vedat Muriqi |
| Team Strengths | Strong defensive mid-block, quality counter-attacks and clear tactics |
| Team Weaknesses | Lack of goalscorers apart from Muriqi, too passive as a block at times |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | Toni Lato, Abdón Prats (doubtful) |
Fans are starting to worry about FC Barcelona’s slump in the last weeks, as Las Palmas caught the Catalans off-guard in their backyard (2-1). Sandro Ramirez scored first, and Raphinha equalized in the 61st minute. Fabio Silva’s strike six minutes later, amid Barcelona’s complacency, allowed Las Palmas to return home with a victory.
Raphinha was among the players who expressed frustration after the match, saying he “doesn’t care about the goal.” He also noted that the team had lacked efficiency in recent weeks.
Barcelona squandered a 2-0 lead against Celta Vigo, conceding twice in the final six minutes to settle for a draw. Before that, Hansi Flick’s team lost to Real Sociedad (1-0). The German manager admitted to tactical errors and has vowed to address them. Notably, this marks the first time under Flick that Barcelona have gone three consecutive La Liga matches without a win.
The return of Lamine Yamal brought some hope, as the young talent came off the bench in the second half. However, Dani Olmo’s injury forced Flick to turn to Pablo Torre, highlighting the team’s reliance on their key players. Barcelona’s wastefulness in front of goal also remains a pressing issue.
Looking ahead, Barcelona face a challenging schedule, including clashes with Mallorca, Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund, Leganés, and Atlético de Madrid, which will test Flick’s ability to regain momentum.
| Recent Form | WLDWL |
| Key Player to Watch | Lamine Yamal |
| Team Strengths | Strong individual players across the starting eleven, high-pressure, quality full-backs, cohesive patterns of play |
| Team Weaknesses | Lack of rest defence, mental collapse in the last games, dependent on the offside trap |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | Marc-André Ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, Dani Olmo, Andreas Christensen, Ansu Fati |
The two teams have often met in domestic competitions, 73 times to be precise. Barcelona won 44 of those, while Mallorca only won seven matches. The two teams also drew 12 times.
Barcelona won the last encounter in March, with Lamine Yamal’s goal in the 73rd minute being enough for the victory. The match was filled with injuries; Raphinha, Manu Morlanes, and Toni Lato left the pitch injured.
Mallorca’s last victory dates back to May 2009, when they secured a 2-1 victory. Samuel Eto’o scored for the Catalans in the 10th minute but it was insufficient as Juan Arango (73’) and Cléber Santana (78’) scored for Mallorca.
Bet hereAs Muriqi will be back for the match, he’s the most evident threat alongside Sergi Darder. Muriqi’s unique physical build makes him a strong threat in the penalty box, while he works in perfect sync with the team when counter-attacking.
Supporting him is Sergi Darder, whose vision and pinpoint passing have been vital since his arrival. Darder’s ability to deliver accurate long passes and connect with the forwards in transition ensures Mallorca can effectively turn defensive solidity into quick counter-attacking opportunities.
For Barcelona, the spotlight will be on Lamine Yamal, who is expected to start after recovering from injury. His dribbling leaves defenders behind in 1v1 challenges, while his speed often sees him lead attacks despite only being 17 years old.
His creativity in the final third, which the team sorely missed in recent matches, will be pivotal in breaking down Mallorca’s deep block, as it would allow Raphinha to return to the left wing. The Brazilian’s runs behind his markers in the penalty make him one of La Liga’s most efficient forwards in front of the net.
Mallorca might not be a club of Barcelona’s stature, but the mid-block has worked wonders for Mallorca since Jagoba Arrasate. Under their previous manager, Mallorca used a similar compact block but lacked the aggressiveness to challenge stronger opponents who sustained pressure. Arrasate’s project is similar to what he did with Osasuna, but with better players.
Barcelona are likely to struggle against Mallorca, considering their recent struggles and lack of patience in the final third. Arrasate’s team isn’t likely to fall for Flick’s offside traps and is rather efficient when counter-attacking.
There won’t be much room for errors, which will force Barcelona players to be more selective in their movement when going forward. Las Palmas’ secret was to congest Zone 14 and ensure it would only wait for the counter-attack. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Mallorca employ a similar game plan.
Fortunately for Barcelona, Marc Casadó is expected to return, which means that Flick is unlikely to try the Gavi-Pedri pivot one more time.
A lot of it depends on Lamine Yamal’s availability, but the atmosphere isn’t great around Barcelona. They will play away, and it’s unsure whether Alejandro Baldé will be available.
Barcelona have shown they struggle the most against deep defensive blocks, finding it difficult to break down compact setups.
While they are well-equipped to resist high-pressing systems, their possession-heavy style has occasionally lacked cutting edge in the final third. Flick’s offside trap isn’t likely to trouble Mallorca much, as they tend to sit back and wait for opportunities to counter-attack.
Barcelona must improve their precision in the final third, as Robert Lewandowski’s heavy touches in the box often lead to turnovers. At the same time, Gavi is expected to play higher up as an interior which would allow him to become a more important threat in the final third.
While Barcelona are expected to dominate possession, their success may hinge on how well they manage defensive transitions.
As Barcelona will look to press high, Mallorca can count on Sergi Darder and Vedat Muriqi to trigger counter-attacks. Mallorca’s best striker isn’t only a valuable asset as an attacker but also as a pressing machine.
Muriqi will benefit from Darder’s long balls, who could avoid Barcelona’s offside trap if he times his runs right. He has a great record in games when Mallorca is considered the underdog, which is why we believe he will score against Barcelona.
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