Mallorca made a strong move by hiring Jagoba Arrasate this summer. This decision has already paid off, as the club currently sits 8th in La Liga with 17 points. Mallorca’s record includes five victories, two draws and three losses. Although Mallorca remained winless in the first three games of the season, they went on to win five games in seven matches.
Even Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde has praised Arrasate: “The results speak for themselves. They were great at Osasuna, and now they’re great at Mallorca, and it’s not surprising to see him doing well.”
Mallorca’s biggest challenge of the season is just down the street, as they will face Deportivo Alavés, Atlético de Madrid, Las Palmas, Valencia and Barcelona in the coming weeks.
Their recent game against Rayo Vallecano (1-0) was particularly emotional as fans of Vedat Muriqi travelled from Kosovo just to see him in action. The fans were rewarded, as Muriqi scored the winner in the 76th minute.
The upcoming match against Mallorca is probably one of the most important for Ernesto Valverde’s team to determine the course of their campaign. Athletic Club is currently 6th with 17 points, meaning they are level in points with Mallorca. The two teams also have the same record – five victories, two draws, and three defeats.
The sixth spot is important as it is the last one to qualify for European competitions. A victory would also allow Athletic Club to surpass Real Betis, potentially landing the team as fifth in the standings while also matching Atlético in points.
In the coming weeks, the Basques will face Mallorca, Real Betis, Ludogorets, Real Valladolid and Real Sociedad. The game against Ludogorets won’t be at home, and the squad will have to travel to Razgrad in Bulgaria. Excessive travel can strain players, impacting performance, which means Valverde is likely to rotate his squad in the coming weeks.
Managing fatigue alongside these challenging fixtures, especially with frequent mid-week games, will test Valverde’s ability to maintain Athletic’s intensity and performance levels through this pivotal stretch of the season.
Bet hereAthletic Club will enter this encounter as the favourite despite Mallorca having the home advantage. However, the visitors will be without Unai Simón, the last injured player on the squad.
Nico Williams recovered a while ago and is now fully fit. His return has rejuvenated Athletic’s creativity, and Valverde will rely heavily on him for offensive plays.
Considering that both teams use mid-blocks, tension on the tactical board is expected. However, considering that Mallorca might not have Athletic Club’s mental resilience, it’s challenging to not see the Basques take the three points home.
As both managers will set their mid-blocks, the difference-makers will be forwards and wingers.
For Mallorca, all hopes will be set on Muriqi, while Nico Williams would be my personal favourite for Athletic Club, considering that wingers work best against flat systems. His pace and unique technique in 1v1 situations make him a difficult forward to predict.
Mallorca is also unlikely to score due to the Paredes-Vivan centre-back pairing, which undoubtedly ranks high in the ranking of La Liga’s best defensive duos. All of this sets the perfect tone for Nico Williams to lead the game and score.
Disclaimer: The content provided on this page, including all football predictions, odds, and related information, is for entertainment and informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure accuracy and timeliness, we do not guarantee the correctness or reliability of any predictions, data, or information presented here.
Make sure to bet on Mallorca vs Athletic Club with 22Bet!
Bet hereDate and Time: 23.11.2024, 18:30 GMT+1 Venue: Etihad, Manchester, England Odds via 22bet Manchester City…
Date and Time: November 23, 14:30 GMT+1 Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany Borussia Dortmund…
Date and Time: November 23, 15:00 GMT+1 Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, England Odds via 22bet…
Date and Time: November 23, 20:00 GMT+1 Venue: Balaídos, Vigo, Spain Odds via 22bet Celta…
Date and Time: Sunday, November 24, 2024. 5:30 PM GMT+1 Venue: Estadio Muncipal de Butarque,…
Date and Time: Saturday, November 23, 2024. 4:00 PM GMT+1 Venue: Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France…
This website uses cookies.