Preview: Alaves vs. Mallorca - prediction, team news, lineups

The home side will enter the contest off the back of a goalless draw with Real Betis, while Mallorca suffered a 2-1 defeat to Real Sociedad in their last match in Spain's top flight.

Match preview

Alaves secured a return to Spain's top flight through last season's Segunda Division playoffs, so any position over 18th would be considered as a successful campaign, with the team looking to consolidate back at this level.

El Glorioso have performed above expectations in La Liga this term, winning seven, drawing seven and losing 11 of their 25 matches to collect 28 points, which has left them in 12th position in the table.

Luis Garcia's side are 11 points clear of the relegation zone, while they sit four points behind 11th-placed Osasuna ahead of the next set of fixtures in Spain's top flight.

Alaves have won three, drawn three and lost one of their last seven games in Spain's top flight, while they will enter this match off the back of successive draws with Villarreal and Real Betis.

The Basque outfit have been solid at home this season, picking up 17 points from their 12 matches in front of their own supporters, and they will be welcoming a Mallorca side that have won just once on their travels this term.

Mallorca, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Real Sociedad, with the result leaving them down in 16th position in Spain's top flight.

Los Piratas have won four, drawn 11 and lost 10 of their 25 league matches this season to collect 23 points, which has left them six points ahead of the relegation zone, which is occupied by Cadiz, Granada and Almeria.

Javier Aguirre's side finished ninth in Spain's top flight last season, so there has been a huge drop-off this term, but Mallorca are still chasing silverware in 2023-24, with the team present in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.

Los Bermellones drew 0-0 with Real Sociedad in the first leg of their last-four affair, with the second leg due to take place next week, but the team cannot afford to take their focus off the league.

Mallorca are unbeaten in their last four La Liga matches with Alaves, recording three wins in the process, but the points were shared in a goalless draw in the reverse game earlier this season.

Alaves La Liga form:

W

W

W

L

D

D

Alaves form (all competitions):

L

W

W

L

D

D

Mallorca La Liga form:

D

D

L

L

W

L

Mallorca form (all competitions):

W

L

L

D

W

L

Team News

Alaves have just one confirmed absentee for this match, with Aleksandar Sedlar out for the season due to a serious knee injury.

Head coach Garcia could name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Real Betis last time out, with a 4-2-3-1 formation again seeing Jon Guridi feature as the number 10.

Samu Omorodion will again feature through the middle for the Basque outfit, with Kike Garcia and Giuliano Simeone among the attackers set to start on the bench.

As for Mallorca, Pablo Maffeo remains sidelined due to a knee injury, while Antonio Raillo and Siebe Van der Heyden are both suspended for the visitors this weekend following red cards against Real Sociedad last time out.

Raillo's absence could open the door for Copete to come into the back five, but it might otherwise be the same side that started the clash with Real Sociedad.

Cyle Larin should again feature alongside Vedat Muriqi in the final third of the field, with Abdon Prats on the bench, while Antonio Sanchez, Samu Costa and Dani Rodriguez will feature in central midfield.

Alaves possible starting lineup:

Sivera; Gorosabel, Abqar, Marin, Duarte; Blanco, Guevara; Sola, Guridi, Rioja; Omorodion

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Rajkovic; Gonzalez, Valjent, Copete, Nastasic, Costa; A Sanchez, Costa, D Rodriguez; Larin, Muriqi

We say: Alaves 1-1 Mallorca

Mallorca's league form is disappointing, losing three of their last four, while Alaves will enter the match in solid form, losing just one of their last seven in Spain's top flight. Alaves are the favourites, but we just have a feeling that Mallorca will be able to secure a share of the spoils in this match.

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