Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 11 June 2020, 17:16

Barcelona will be looking to consolidate their spot at the top of La Liga when they resume their 2019-20 campaign away to struggling Mallorca on Saturday night.

The Spanish champions are currently two points clear of Real Madrid at the summit, while Mallorca occupy 18th position, one point from the safety of 17th ahead of the return of Spain's top flight.

Match preview

© Reuters

Mallorca secured a return to Spain's top flight by advancing through the Segunda Division playoffs last season, but Los Bermellones are facing a battle to secure their position at this level for the 2020-21 campaign.

Indeed, Vicente Moreno 's side have only collected 25 points from their 27 league matches during the 2019-20 season, leaving them 18th in the table with 11 games left.

Mallorca's position is far from terminal as they are only a point off 17th-placed Celta Vigo, while they have won seven league games this season, which is relatively high considering their spot in the table.

Their form prior to the lockdown period was strong, meanwhile, suffering just one defeat in their last four matches, recording two wins in the process, including a 2-1 success at Eibar last time out.

The omens are not exactly terrific for Mallorca, though, as they have lost their last six La Liga matches with Barca and have not been victorious against the Catalan giants in the league since May 2009.

© Reuters

Barca, meanwhile, entered the lockdown period off the back of a 1-0 win over Sociedad, which followed a 2-0 loss away to Real Madrid in El Clasico at the start of March.

Quique Setien 's side have already lost five times in Spain's top flight this season but a record of 18 wins and four draws has brought them 58 points, leaving them two points clear of second-placed Real Madrid.

The Spanish champions have actually won five of their last six league matches, and as mentioned above, have dominated their recent meetings with Mallorca, scoring five times in each of their last two clashes.

Barca still have to travel to Sevilla and welcome Atletico Madrid before the end of the season, but they are in charge of their own destiny and will be determined to put three points on the board this weekend.

The games will come thick and fast for Setien's team as a mid-week clash with Leganes is followed by a trip to Sevilla on June 19, while the club will also be eagerly anticipating an announcement on the Champions League.

Mallorca La Liga form: LLWDLW

Barcelona La Liga form: WWWWLW

Barcelona form (all competitions): WWWDLW

Team News

© Reuters

Mallorca will be without the services of either Leonardo Koutris or Lumor Agbenyenu, but Salva Sevilla is available after serving a suspension against Eibar last time out.

Sevilla should return to a midfield position, while on-loan Real Madrid attacker Takefusa Kubo is likely to feature against the club that he represented for four years before seeking pastures new.

Dani Rodriguez is expected to keep his spot in a wide position, while Juan Hernandez and Ante Budimir should feature as the front two, having scored 11 league goals between them this term.

Barca will again be without the services of Ousmane Dembele due to a long-term hamstring injury, but Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are both fit for the champions this weekend.

Messi had given Barca a scare by picking up a minor thigh injury last week, but the Argentina international has been declared fit, while the lockdown period has allowed Suarez the chance to recover from knee surgery.

Antoine Griezmann is expected to join Messi and Suarez in attack, while Arturo Vidal could get the nod to feature in midfield over both Arthur and Ivan Rakitic.

Further back, Clement Lenglet 's suspension will open the door for Samuel Umtiti to start, while Sergi Roberto is expected to get the nod at right-back due to the uncertainty surrounding Nelson Semedo 's involvement.

Semedo is due to undergo another coronavirus test ahead of the contest, having allegedly broken rules when it comes to large gatherings by attending a birthday party with 19 other people.

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Reina; Gamez, Raillo, Valjent, Pozo; Kubo, Baba, Sevilla, Rodriguez; Hernandez, Budimir

Barcelona possible starting lineup:

Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; De Jong, Busquets, Vidal; Griezmann, Suarez, Messi

We say: Mallorca 0-2 Barcelona

It is difficult to predict exactly what will occur due to the circumstances surrounding the contest, but Barca will fancy their chances of picking up an important three points. Suarez's expected return is big news for the champions, who should have enough to emerge victorious on the night.

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England moved to the top of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League group on Thursday evening courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Didier Deschamps was left frustrated on Thursday as his France side failed to capitalise on their dominance against Israel, being held to a 0-0 draw, though they still progressed to the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after Italy beat Belgium in the other League A Group 2 fixture. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England have risen to the top of Group 2 of League B in the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Greece in Athens on Thursday night. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sandro Tonali's first international goal was enough to send Italy through to the finals of the UEFA Nations League courtesy of a 1-0 win away in Belgium this evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women will go head-to-head in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at Stamford Bridge. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has asked Manchester City to sign two defenders in 2025, according to a report. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte has said that he is open to making the move to Real Madrid. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has said that his club are not planning to be active during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Moldova can boost their hopes of securing promotion from League D Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League when they face fellow European minnows Andorra at Estadi Nacional on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Montenegro welcome Iceland to Stadion Kraj Bistrice in Niksic for their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women will be looking to secure derby bragging rights when they face off in Saturday's Women's Super League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nacho has ruled out the possibility of returning to Real Madrid amid suggestions that Los Blancos were considering making an attempt to re-sign him during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams with contrasting objectives in the National League are set to meet at the Gateshead International Stadium on Saturday, as promotion hopefuls Gateshead host relegation-threatened Aldershot Town. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim will reportedly take Manchester United training for the first time on Monday, with the club confident that his visa will have arrived in time for him to officially get on the grass next week. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has said that a back issue forced Lisandro Martinez to pull out of the squad for the national team's upcoming 2026 World Cup qualification matches with Paraguay and Peru. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly set his sights on an exit from the club next summer, and plans to take key man Alex Grimaldo with him. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United Women will attempt to claim back-to-back victories when they travel to the Broadfield Stadium for Saturday's Women's Super League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion Women. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea.