Can the weakened Barca side hold on in Mallorca?
Around the turn of the year, the first half of the current season is concluded in Spain. The current table shows a very unusual picture, with several top teams falling far short of their expectations. For the crisis-ridden Catalans from Barcelona, the new year begins on Germany’s favourite holiday island. Promoted Mallorca welcome Barcelona to their home Son Moix Stadium on Sunday evening.
The island kickers are currently in 15th place in the table and already have a small cushion on the first relegation place. Especially at home, Mallorca is difficult to defeat (only one defeat).
Accordingly, the chances for Mallorca against Barcelona are quite good for the prediction of at least a point win for the underdog. Especially since Barca coach Xavi is struggling with enormous personnel problems. Up until Thursday, no fewer than ten Barca players had tested positive.
While in England countless postponements of matches are currently the order of the day, this is not (yet) the case in Spain. The adapted regulations are extremely tough, as just five professional players have to be available for a match to be played. The rest can be filled up with youth players and as long as 13 players appear on the match report, the match will go ahead. As of now, Barcelona can still manage this, with the match scheduled to start at 9pm on Sunday.
Mallorca – Statistics & current form
The island kickers from Mallorca have been the epitome of a lift team in the recent past. Since the 2016/17 season, they have always ended up in a new division. However, the team of head coach Luis Garcia would like to break this streak in 2021/22 and celebrate their stay in the Spanish LaLiga. At the end of the first half of the season, Mallorca will definitely achieve this goal. Although Mallorca are currently the “worst” promoted team, they are already five points clear of the first relegation place in 15th place in the table.
Only one home defeat in autumn 2021
Many tourists and holidaymakers feel very comfortable in Mallorca, this statement also applies to the footballers. Only one home match was lost by the promoted team this season. On the seventh matchday, Mallorca had to admit defeat to CA Osasuna with 2:3. This defeat was an exception in a double sense, because it was also only one of two home games where betting on the over 2.5 was the right choice.
The home games of the Mallorcans are characterised by very few goals. On average, only 1.67 goals were scored per game. No less than six of the nine home games ended in a draw – most recently there were four draws in a row at home. Given these figures, at least a point against the former dominator of Spanish football is within the realms of possibility. With a little more risk, the prediction for the home win in Mallorca against Barcelona is offered on the Draw-No-Bet market.
Predicted Mallorca line-up:
Reina – Costa, Sedlar, Valjent, Maffeo – Ruiz de Galarreta, Baba – Lee, Dani Rodriguez, Kubo – Angel Rodriguez
Last matches played in Mallorca:
LaLiga
12/19 2021 – Granada 4 – 1 Mallorca
Copa del Rey
12/16 2021 – UD Llanera 0 – 6 Mallorca
LaLiga
12/10 2021 – Mallorca 0 – 0 Celta Vigo
12/04 2021 Atletico Madrid 1 – 2 Mallorca
Copa del Rey
12/01 2021 – Gimnastica Segoviana 0 – 2 Mallorca
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
Betting odds of over 2.00 on an FC Barcelona win against a promoted team? In fact, the bookmakers did not make a mistake at the beginning of 2022 and this assessment is absolutely understandable. In the minds of many football fans, Barcelona is still an exceptional team, but the players are unable to prove it on the pitch. Eighth place in the table after 18 match days is a bitter disappointment.
Only one away win
After Messi’s departure, it was clear that this season would be quite difficult. But it was not expected to this extent and only 28 points from 18 games is the worst figure in the 21st century. The Blaugrana have been extremely disappointing away from home, with their only away win this season coming against the yellow submarine Villarreal. Five of their eight away appearances have ended in a draw.
According to the statistics – six home draws for Mallorca and five away draws for the Catalans – the odds on Mallorca vs. Barcelona would be quite close to another draw. However, doubts must also be cast here, as the personnel situation is worrying for coach Xavi.
Xavi has hardly any fit players available
The Christmas holiday has left its mark, as Barcelona had no fewer than ten positive PCR tests by Thursday. The look at the list of absentees is almost endless. In addition to the absences due to illness, there are also those of Martin Braithwaite, Ansu Fati, Sergi Roberto and Memphis Depay (all injured) as well as Sergio Busquets (suspended).
In England, the match would have been cancelled long ago, but due to the fact that only five professionals are needed, a cancellation is not an issue at the moment. On Friday, Xavi had nine professional players at his disposal. The squad will therefore be strengthened with many young players. The Austrian Yusuf Demir is not in the squad, because if he were to play, he would have to exercise his purchase option, which the Catalans cannot afford.
In view of this personnel situation, the fundamentally high betting odds for the visitors on Sunday between Mallorca and Barcelona are still too low. The improved B eleven is by no means the favourite against a home-strong promoted team. An away win would almost have to be called a surprise.
Predicted Barcelona line-up:
ter Stegen – Mingueza, Garcia, Pique, Araujo – de Jong, Gonzalez, Puig – Jutgla, de Jong, Akhomach
Last matches played by Barcelona:
LaLiga
12/21 2021 – Sevilla 1 – 1 Barcelona
12/18 2021 – Barcelona 3 – 2 Elche
Club friendlies
12/14 2021 – Barcelona (2)1 – 1(4) Boca Juniors
LaLiga
12/12 2021 – Osasuna Pamplona 2 – 2 Barcelona
Champions League Grp. E
12/08 2021 – Bayern Munich 3 – 0 Barcelona
Mallorca – Barcelona Direct comparison / H2H Balance
Not surprisingly, the direct comparison in this match speaks a very clear language. The Mallorcans are winless against FC Barcelona for ten games in the Spanish LaLiga. The last time they managed a 2-1 home win was in the 2008/09 season. Since then, there have been nine defeats and only one draw. In eight of those nine defeats, bets on a handicap win for the Blaugrana have also been crowned with success.
Mallorca – Barcelona tip
Caution is advised in this match, because at first glance, between Mallorca and Barcelona, betting on the visitors seems like a gift. However, there are good reasons for the supposedly high betting odds on the visitors, which, soberly considered, must even be classified as too low.
Mallorca is very difficult to beat at home (only one defeat), while Barcelona often disappoints away from home (only one win). In addition, the personnel situation of the guests is worrying. All facts that speak for a tip in the direction of the home side between Mallorca and Barcelona.
Mallorca also had two positive cases to complain about, but will certainly not (have to) go into the match as severely short of replacements as is the case with Barcelona. A bet on the home win is certainly associated with a certain risk, but the bet on the home win in the draw-no-bet market seems very interesting for Mallorca against Barcelona.
The away win does not seem likely. With the protection of the cashback in case of a draw, there are still interesting betting odds for the home side. This bet is recommended with a stake of five units.
