Preview: Mallorca vs. Celta Vigo - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors will enter this match off the back of a 4-2 success over Amorebieta in the Copa del Rey, while Mallorca also progressed in the competition with a 3-0 victory over Burgos last time out.

Match preview

Mallorca found it difficult in the opening months of the campaign, but it does appear that a corner has been turned, with Javier Aguirre's side currently in a solid run of form.

The Pirates have only been beaten once in their last eight matches in all competitions, which was a 1-0 reverse to La Liga leaders Real Madrid at Bernabeu on January 3, while they have not lost to a side other than Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid since the start of November.

Aguirre's team will enter this match off the back of a 3-0 success over Burgos in the Copa del Rey on Sunday, with the result seeing them progress to the round of 16, where Tenerife are waiting.

Mallorca boast a record of three wins, nine draws and seven defeats from their 19 league matches this season to sit in 14th position in the table on 18 points, just three points clear of the relegation zone.

The Pirates have only scored 17 times in La Liga this season, which is the fourth-worst attacking record in the division, but they have conceded just 23, which is actually the same as fifth-placed Atletico Madrid and less than second-placed Girona (24).

Celta will also enter this match in strong form, winning three of their last four matches in all competitions, including their opening two games of the year against Real Betis and Amorebieta.

Rafael Benitez's side recorded a 2-1 victory over Real Betis in the league on January 3 before progressing to the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey four days later with a 4-2 success away to Amorebieta.

The Sky Blues have lost just one of their last eight matches in all competitions, and their story is similar to Mallorca's, with both teams looking to recover from difficult starts to the campaign.

Celta remain in a difficult position in the table, sitting 17th, only one point ahead of the relegation zone, but they are just three points from 13th-placed Villarreal and will now be looking up the division rather than down.

The Sky Blues have actually lost each of their last three La Liga matches against Mallorca, including a 1-0 defeat when the two teams locked horns in Vigo earlier this season.

Mallorca La Liga form:

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D

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Mallorca form (all competitions):

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Celta Vigo La Liga form:

D

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Celta Vigo form (all competitions):

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D

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Team News

Mallorca will be without the services of Omar Mascarell and Martin Valjent for this contest though injury, while Vedat Muriqi, who has been out since the start of November with a calf issue, remains a major doubt.

The hosts will also be unable to call upon central defender Matija Nastasic due to a one-game suspension, as he picked up a milestone booking in the team's last league game at Real Madrid.

Head coach Aguirre will make changes from the side that started in the Copa del Rey last time out, with Cyle Larin, Samu Costa, Antonio Sanchez and Pablo Maffeo among those set to return.

As for Celta, Carlos Dominguez, Franco Cervi, Mihailo Ristic, Carl Starfelt and Joseph Aidoo are out through injury, while Jonathan Bamba is with Ivory Coast preparing for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations.

There will also be no Ivan Villar this weekend, with the club's goalkeeper sent off against Real Betis in the league last time out even though he was not on the field.

Anastasios Douvikas scored twice in the Copa del Rey against Amorebieta last weekend, but it seems likely that he will again be on the bench in the league, with Iago Aspas and Jorgen Strand Larsen set to start as the front two.

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Rajkovic; Maffeo, Gonzalez, Raillo, Copete, Van der Hayden; A Sanchez, Morales, Costa, D Rodriguez; Larin

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Guaita; Mingueza, U Nunez, Dominguez, M Sanchez; Perez, Tapia, Beltran, Cervi; Aspas, Larsen

We say: Mallorca 1-1 Celta Vigo

Both teams will enter this match in strong form, but Mallorca have won just twice at home in the league this season, while Celta have just one away success to their name during the current La Liga campaign. Mallorca have already drawn six times in front of their own fans this term, and we can see another stalemate occurring here.

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