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

La Union are rooted to the bottom of the table, only picking up four points from their opening 16 matches of the campaign, while Mallorca are in 15th, boasting 14 points from their first 16 games of 2023-24.

Match preview

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a tremendously difficult campaign for Almeria, with a record of four draws and 12 losses from 16 matches bringing them only four points, which has left them rooted to the bottom of the table.

La Union have the worst defensive record in the division this season, conceding 39 goals, but they will have been pleased with their display against Atletico Madrid last time out, only suffering a 2-1 loss to Diego Simeone's side at Wanda Metropolitano.

Gaizka Garitano's side were also knocked out of the Copa del Rey earlier this month, going down 1-0 to fourth-tier outfit Barbastro, which would have further dented their confidence.

Almeria will head to Barcelona in their final game of the year on December 20, so a win against Mallorca would be invaluable, and there is no question that their better performances this term have come on home soil.

UDA finished 17th in Spain's top flight last season on their return from the Segunda Division, and they are facing another huge battle to avoid dropping back into the second tier for next term.

Mallorca, meanwhile, have also found it difficult during the 2023-24 campaign, boasting a record of two wins, eight draws and six losses from 16 matches, which has left them in 15th position on 14 points.

The Pirates finished ninth in Spain's top flight last term, but it has been a struggle this season, with the team only four points outside of the relegation zone.

Los Bermellones will enter this game off the back of successive wins, though, recording a 3-0 victory over Valle Egues in the Copa del Rey before beating Sevilla 1-0 in La Liga last time out.

Cyle Larin's 11th-minute effort proved to be enough to overcome Sevilla, and Javier Aguirre's side will now be targeting two more wins in their final two games of the year against Almeria and Osasuna.

Almeria actually recorded a 3-0 victory when these two teams locked horns in the corresponding match last season, but Mallorca were 1-0 winners in the reverse game in front of their own supporters.

Almeria La Liga form:

L

L

L

L

D

L

Almeria form (all competitions):

L

L

L

D

L

L

Mallorca La Liga form:

D

L

L

D

D

W

Mallorca form (all competitions):

L

L

D

D

W

W

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Team News

Almeria have a relatively lengthy injury list at this moment in time, with Gonzalo Melero, Marko Milovanovic, Ibrahima Kone, Luis Suarez, Marc Pubill and Martin Svidersky on the sidelines.

The home side did not pick up any fresh problems in their clash with Atletico last time out, though, and it would therefore not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field.

Leo Baptistao netted at Wanda Metropolitano and should again play as the centre-forward, with Adri Embarba and Sergio Arribas also operating in the final third of the field.

As for Mallorca, Martin Valjent picked up a knee injury during his side's clash with Sevilla last weekend, with the defender now expected to be missing until the middle of January.

Vedat Muriqi is also still out with an ankle problem, while Toni Lato is a doubt due to a muscular issue.

Valjent's absence will open the door for Giovanni Gonzalez to feature at the back, while Abdon Prats is also expected to come into an attacking area alongside Larin, but it could otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Sevilla.

Almeria possible starting lineup:

Maximiano; Chumi, Montes, Gonzalez; Pozo, Robertone, Lopy, Akieme; Arribas; Baptistao, Embarba

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Rajkovic; Valjent, Raillo, Nastasic; Maffeo, D Rodriguez, Mascarell, S Costa, J Costa; Prats, Larin

We say: Almeria 1-1 Mallorca

Almeria are a very difficult team to back this season, and we are again struggling to predict a win for them here. Mallorca will enter the match off the back of successive wins, but Almeria were much-improved against Atletico, and we are expecting the points to be shared on Sunday afternoon.

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