Defenders neutralise each other?
Real Sociedad have had several complicated weeks. Not only did the Basques fail in important knockout games in both the Copa del Rey and the Europa League. They also lost the Basque derby against Athletic Bilbao 4-0. In total, there are only two wins on record among the last eight competitive matches.
The Txuri Urdin now travel to the Balearic Islands, where promoted Mallorca did not leave too much to be desired. The Bermellones have only lost three of their 13 home games in the 2021/22 season, but the odds are still swinging in the visitors’ favour ahead of Mallorca’s catch-up game against Real Sociedad.
While it is worth noting that San Sebastián have won all of their last four competitive games against the Mallorcans. In view of the Basques’ not too good form, however, a point win on the Balearic Islands is anything but a foregone conclusion. Accordingly, it makes sense to switch to another bet.
We see the greatest value in betting on Mallorca against Real Sociedad to score less than 2.5 goals, especially as neither team has been too prolific in terms of goals recently.
Mallorca – Statistics & current form
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca returned to Spain’s top flight last summer as runners-up in La Liga 2. The Bermellones’ stated goal is now to re-establish themselves in La Liga.
For a long time, the Mallorcans were on a really good path in this respect. Overall, however, the form curve in the 2021/22 season is pointing downwards. Also because six of the last eight league games were lost, there is now only a five-point lead over the first relegation place on the record.
Only lost three of 13 home La Liga games
While the fact that they still have an open relegation game up their sleeve has been very comforting of late.
However, if the points are lost again at home against Real Sociedad, another defeat at Celta Vigo on Sunday could use up the entire cushion that RCD Mallorca built up in the first half of the season.
A turnaround would be correspondingly important for Luis García’s team, which at least has a good home record. Only three of the 13 league games at the Visit Mallorca Estadi have been lost (four wins, six draws).
On average, only 1.9 goals scored overall per Mallorca home game
It is striking that the Bermellones have only conceded twelve goals at home. This makes them the fifth best home defence in La Liga. However, because only 13 goals were scored at home (fifth weakest in the league), the three points often failed to materialise.
With an average of only 1.9 goals per home game for the Mallorcans, there is a lot of value in betting on a low-scoring match in the second leg between Mallorca and Real Sociedad. The first leg between the two teams also ended narrowly with 0:1 from the García side’s point of view.
Predicted line-up of Mallorca:
Rico – Costa – Raillo – Valjent – Maffeo – Sánchez – Sevilla – D. Rodríguez – Á. Rodríguez – Kubo – Muriqi
Last matches played in Mallorca:
LaLiga
02/26 2022 – Mallorca 0 – 1 Valencia
02/20 2022 – Real Betis 2 – 1 Mallorca
02/14 2022 – Mallorca 3 – 2 Athletic Bilbao
02/05 2022 – Mallorca 2 – 1 Cadiz
Copa del Rey
02/02 2022 – Rayo Vallecano 1 – 0 Mallorca
Real Sociedad – Statistics & current form
Real Sociedad de Fútbol won the Copa del Rey 2020 final a year ago, while the Txuri-Urdin finished fifth in La Liga and qualified for the Europa League.
However, while in the Copa del Rey 2022 they suffered a heavy 4-0 home defeat against Betis Sevilla in the quarter-finals, the Basques have now also failed to qualify for the Europa League intermediate round against RB Leipzig. That leaves Imanol Alguacil’s side with only league action left to play for.
Won only two of last eight competitive matches
In La Liga, the Basques were in the fight for a Champions League spot for a long time. The Txuri-Urdin even finished a total of four matchdays in second place in the table. However, because only two of the last five league games were won, the Basques also slipped down to seventh place in La Liga.
The team’s reaction at the weekend was correspondingly important, as they celebrated an important 1-0 home victory over Osasuna after three winless games in a row. A game in which the stable Basque defence also finally played to nil again.
Only 25 goals from the 25 league games
The big shortcoming of Imanol Alguacil’s team, however, is not the defence, but the offence. Up front, the Basques simply lack a goal-scorer who can score reliably. In total, they have scored only 25 goals in 25 league games. In only one of the last twelve league games did the Txuri-Urdin score two goals per game.
However, as long as the defence holds the nil once again, the next 1:0 would be enough for the important three points on the Balearic Islands.
Predicted Real Sociedad line-up:
Remiro – Gorosabel – Dozagarat – Le Normand – Elustondo – Illarramendi – Merino – Martín – Silva – Djouahra – Isak
Last matches played by Real Sociedad:
LaLiga
02/27 2022 – San Sebastian 1 – 0 Osasuna Pamplona
Europa League Final Stage
02/24 2022 – San Sebastian 1 – 3 RB Leipzig
LaLiga
02/20 2022 – Athletic Bilbao 4 – 0 San Sebastian
Europa League Final Stage
02/17 2022 – RB Leipzig 2 – 2 San Sebastian
LaLiga
02/13 2022 – San Sebastian 2 – 0 Granada
Mallorca – Real Sociedad Direct comparison / H2H record
Head to head: 20 – 10 – 25
There are 55 meetings between the two teams and the Basques lead the direct comparison with 25 wins. Real Sociedad have recently won four matches in a row against Mallorca.
Mallorca – Real Sociedad betting tips
For Mallorca against Real Sociedad, the prediction basically goes to the visitors, who have also picked up 15 points more than the Bermellones in league play. However, the Basques are not in their best form with only two wins from the last eight matches and have been conspicuous for their meagre goal tally. The 25 goals attest to the Txuri-Urdin having the fourth weakest attack in La Liga.
With a view to the fact that the Mallorcans also find it difficult to score goals, but conversely also have their strength in defence, a low-scoring catch-up game is to be expected.
