Ready for the island?
The semi-final of the Copa del Rey is a clash between the Balearic Islands and the Basque Country. Judging by previous performances, it looks like a clear-cut affair. But will the odds tell the truth in Mallorca v Real Sociedad?
In theory, the visitors should be able to force a preliminary decision in the first leg. The tight 487 million dwarfs the rough 91 for the islanders. However, the gap will probably not be quite so large on the pitch. At least that’s how most bookmakers are predicting Mallorca vs Real Sociedad
The recent performances of the two teams do not paint a good picture. In league terms, the score is 6-2 after the last five games. So neither side is in top form. Despite the home advantage, Mallorca are the underdogs against Real Sociedad according to the odds
Mallorca – statistics & current form
The Mallorcans have come a surprisingly long way in the hunt for a title. Now, however, another big chunk awaits.
If there’s one thing that can benefit the visitors in the end, it’s their ability not to lose too often. This is a huge advantage, especially in a knockout competition like the Spanish Cup.
The Whites have drawn eleven of their 23 league games. With three wins and nine defeats, the blessing and the curse are close together here. Although they have scored more often than they have lost, their progress with individual points has been limited.
In the Copa, of course, things are a little different. Penalties are also allowed there. For this to happen, however, the defense must hold firm and the offense must score. This has worked reasonably well in most cases so far. But the higher the level, the thinner the air
Mallorca’s tricky defense…
When you look at the goal difference, it quickly becomes clear where the problem areas are. Firstly, the defense. 30 goals conceded in 23 rounds is not a huge problem. But they are definitely too high for a bet on getting through the game without conceding a goal.
At the other end of the pitch, you have the same problem, but with different signs. With 19 goals in 23 matchdays, there is no experienced striker on board. Secondly, there is often simply a lack of collective firepower to absorb the goals conceded.
Mallorca therefore only have a real chance if their defense holds out long enough to frustrate their opponents. Mistakes can then lead to counter-attacking opportunities. But if they concede a goal too quickly, they won’t have the answer. In short, nobody should hope for many goals here.
Predicted Mallorca line-up:
Rajković – Gonzalez Apud, Valjent, Raíllo, Copete, Jaume – Sánchez, Mascarell, Morlanes – Larin
Real Sociedad – Statistics & current form
The blue half of the Basque Country are hoping for the big one. They have drawn a supposedly “easy” draw in the last four. Will they now live up to it?
Like the hosts, the Basque Country do not lose too often. The team has only lost four times. This is mainly due to the Blue & Whites’ forward line.
They have currently scored 32 goals in 23 league matches. This puts them in sixth place, as well as in the overall table. So much for the good news. However, there is one piece of worrying news. They have scored a total of just three goals in their last five appearances.
Although Mikel Oyarzabal (8+1), the number one scorer, is fit and present, he is relatively alone. As a result, the opponents will find it fairly easy to counter the visitors’ attacking efforts. So it could be another long evening for the visitors
It’s missing at every corner and end
This lack is not due to the ability of the other players, but to their fitness. Aritz Elustondo (0+0), Hamari Traoré (0+2), Aihen Muñoz (0+1), Arsen Zakharyan (0+1), Take Kubo (6+3), Ander Barrenetxea (3+1), Carlos Fernández (2+1) and Martín Merquelanz (0+0) are all currently missing.
Returning players should be expected with the end of the African and Asian Championships, but it remains to be seen whether they will make an immediate impact.
Eight players are therefore missing from the 26-man squad, who have twelve goals, nine assists and a total of 108 games under their belts. So there are regulars on both sides of the pitch who will be sorely missed in a long season, including the European Cup.
There has only been one win in the last six league games. Alavés (1:1) and Cádiz (0:0) were not necessarily the giants of the Iberian peninsula. The squad has potential, but cannot cope with the program and the injuries. Mallorca could also prove to be an unpleasant test.
Predicted Real Sociedad line-up:
Remiro – Le Normand, Zubeldía, Pacheco, Galan – Sadiq, Turrientes, Zubimendi, Oyarzabal – André Silva, Méndez
Mallorca – Real Sociedad head-to-head comparison / H2H result
The direct duel leaves little room for interpretation regarding the distribution of power. The score is 1:8 from the islanders’ point of view. The hosts’ last win dates back to 2012. So if Mallorca have a poor record against Real Sociedad in many predictions, there is at least a good historical reason for this
Mallorca – Real Sociedad betting tip
On paper, everything looks clear. If the recent performances hadn’t been so poor, there would already be clear dividing lines here. The odds are still relatively close between Mallorca and Real Sociedad and in both cases quite high
With the big price in mind, tip 2 seems a little more realistic for Mallorca vs Real Sociedad. The Basques have a real chance of winning the title here and will probably want to take advantage of it. However, since there is also a second leg, hardly any of the rivals will go on the attack immediately and so it is unlikely to be a high score
