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

Two teams in desperate need of a positive result will lock horns in La Liga on Friday evening as 18th-placed Mallorca welcome 20th-placed Leganes for a key match.

Mallorca have lost to Barcelona and Villarreal since returning to action on June 13, while Leganes have been beaten by Real Valladolid and Barcelona in their last two contests in Spain's top flight.

Match preview

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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 next term.

Indeed, a total of 25 points from 29 matches has left them in 18th position in the table, one point off Celta Vigo, who are in action against Real Valladolid on Wednesday night.

Mallorca have actually won seven times in the league this season, which is far from disastrous, but they have suffered 18 defeats, which is the most in the division at this stage.

Vicente Moreno 's side suffered a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona on their return to action before losing 1-0 at Villarreal on Tuesday night.

The strugglers will actually face Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid in three of their next five in Spain's top flight, which is an indication of the importance of Friday's clash.

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Leganes are currently in their fourth straight season at this level of football, but they will need to pick up their form in the latter stages of the campaign in order to avoid relegation.

As it stands, Javier Aguirre 's side are bottom of the table, having picked up just 23 points from their 29 matches, recording just five wins in the process, which is the joint-worst record in the division.

Leganes are only three points off 17th-placed Celta as it stands, though, and there are bound to be more twists and turns in the coming weeks as a host of clubs battle against the threat of relegation.

As mentioned, Los Pepineros have also lost twice since returning to action on June 13, suffering a 2-1 home loss to Real Valladolid before going down 2-0 at the home of the Spanish champions on Tuesday night.

Mallorca La Liga form: WDLWLL

Leganes La Liga form: DLDWLL

Team News

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Mallorca will be without the services of Antonio Raillo due to the yellow card that the central defender picked up during the 1-0 defeat to Villarreal last time out.

Lumor Agbenyenu and Leonardo Koutris are both still injured, but Dani Rodriguez is back from a suspension of his own, while Ki Sung-yeung could return after missing out against the Yellow Submarine through injury.

Ante Budimir, who is Mallorca's leading goalscorer this season with nine in Spain's top flight, was named on the bench on Tuesday night but is set to return to the starting XI for this game.

As for Leganes, Oscar Rodriguez and Dimitris Siovas are both available to return after missing out against the Spanish champions through suspension.

Alexander Szymanowski is closing in on a return to action following a knee injury, although this match will come too soon for the Argentine.

Kevin Rodrigues and Guido Carrillo were both left out of the starting side at Camp Nou but should return to the XI, while Kenneth Omeruo is also expected to earn a recall for the visitors.

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Reina; Gamez, Valjent, Sedlar, Sastre; Kubo, Mohammed, Rodriguez, Lago; Hernandez, Budimir

Leganes possible starting lineup:

Pichu; Bustinza, Siovas, Omeruo, Silva; Rodrigues, Mesa, Amadou, Rosales; Carrillo, Rodriguez

We say: Mallorca 1-0 Leganes

There is no downplaying the importance of this match to both sides at a key stage of the season. Leganes recorded a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season, but we fancy Mallorca to pick up all three points on this occasion to boost their survival hopes.