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

The home team are currently 15th in Spain's top flight, boasting 14 points from their opening 14 matches, while Mallorca are 11th, having collected 19 points during a strong start to the campaign.

Match preview

Getafe were last in La Liga action on November 9, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Almeria, but they have played twice in the Copa del Rey since then, beating both San Roque Lepe and Diocesano to progress in the competition.

Quique Sanchez Flores's side are currently 15th in Spain's top flight, having picked up just 14 points from their opening 14 matches, which has left them just three points clear of the relegation zone.

Getafe have only lost one of their last six in La Liga, though, and they now have three huge matches against Mallorca, Sevilla and Espanyol before a trip to Camp Nou to take on Barcelona on January 21.

The Deep Blue Ones have only played outside of Spain's top flight for one season since 2004-05, so it would be a surprise to see them relegated to the Segunda Division, but they have been 15th in their last two campaigns.

Getafe are also unbeaten against Mallorca since April 2012, with the run including a 1-0 victory in the corresponding match between the two sides last season.

Mallorca finished 16th in La Liga last term on their return to the top level, and they are competing in back-to-back top-flight campaigns for the first time since 2013.

There is still a lot of football to be played before the end of the season, but the Pirates can be delighted with their form thus far, boasting a record of five wins, four draws and five defeats from their 14 matches to collect 19 points, which has left them in 11th position in the table.

Javier Aguirre's side were in strong form in the league before the campaign was halted for the World Cup, picking up 10 points from four matches, including back-to-back wins over Villarreal and Atletico Madrid.

Mallorca have also been victorious twice in the Copa del Rey during their strong run, beating Autol 6-0 in the competition on November 12 before running out 1-0 winners over Real Union on December 20.

Aguirre's team will be back in Copa del Rey action against Pontevedra on January 4, but their immediate focus will be on ending 2022 with another positive result in Spain's top flight.

Getafe La Liga form:

D

D

D

W

D

L

Getafe form (all competitions):

D

D

W

D

L

W

Mallorca La Liga form:

L

L

W

D

W

W

Mallorca form (all competitions):

L

W

D

W

W

W

Team News

Getafe could have a fully-fit squad for this match, while they will be boosted by the returns of Portu, Domingos Duarte and Gaston Alvarez following suspensions.

Head coach Sanchez has decisions to make when it comes to team selection, as Munir El Haddadi scored twice during the Copa del Rey victory over Diocesano last time out.

Borja Mayoral might again be given the nod alongside Enes Unal in the final third of the field, though, while Carles Alena and Jordan Amavi should also be among those to return to the side.

As for Mallorca, head coach Aguirre could select the same XI that took to the field for the 1-0 victory over Atletico in the league last time out.

Vedat Muriqi has scored eight league goals during the 2022-23 campaign, and the 28-year-old is expected to lead the line for the visitors on Friday.

Lee Kang-in and Antonio Sanchez are set to feature in the wide areas, meanwhile, with Aguirre potentially keeping faith with the 5-4-1 formation that was successful against Atletico.

Getafe possible starting lineup:

Soria; Iglesias, Dakonam, Mitrovic, Duarte, Amavi; Maksimovic, Milla, Alena; Mayoral, Unal

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Rajkovic; Gonzalez, Valjent, Raillo, Copete, Costa; Sanchez, De Galarreta, Baba, Kang-in; Muriqi

We say: Getafe 1-2 Mallorca

This is a very important match for both sides, and we are expecting a close game on Friday afternoon. Mallorca's form before the break was excellent, though, so we are siding with the visitors here, who will fancy their chances of putting another impressive result on the board.

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