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

The away side are currently ninth in the table, two points clear of 11th-placed Mallorca, who have only picked up one point from their last four matches during a disappointing run of form.

Match preview

Mallorca finished 16th in La Liga last season on their return to the top flight, and they are looking to make it back-to-back campaigns at this level of football for the first time since 2013.

The Pirates will be pleased with their season thus far, picking up 32 points from 26 matches, which has left them in 11th spot in the table, some six points clear of the relegation zone.

The international break came at the right time for Javier Aguirre's side, though, as they have only picked up one point from their last four league fixtures, losing 1-0 at Real Betis last time out.

Mallorca's last success was in the middle of February at home to Villarreal, and a victory in this match would move them above their opponents and into ninth position in the table.

Los Bermellones suffered a 1-0 defeat to Osasuna in the reverse league match in January, though, and they have not actually beaten their opponents here at home in La Liga since September 2010.

Osasuna were also in disappointing form ahead of the international break, picking up just one point from their last three matches, suffering back-to-back losses to Valencia and Villarreal.

Jagoba Arrasate's side are still ninth in the table, though, just two points behind seventh-placed Athletic Bilbao, and they are also chasing silverware this term in the shape of the Copa del Rey.

Osasuna lead Athletic 1-0 ahead of the second leg of their semi-final on April 4, with the winner advancing to the final, where either Real Madrid or Barcelona will be waiting.

Los Rojillos have finished 10th, 11th and 10th in their last three campaigns at this level, while they were seventh in 2012, so the club have previous when it comes to claiming a high position in the table.

Osasuna have the ninth-best away form in the league this season, picking up 15 points from 13 matches, and they will be facing a Mallorca outfit that have claimed 21 points in front of their own supporters this term.

Mallorca La Liga form:

L

W

L

L

D

L

Osasuna La Liga form:

D

L

W

D

L

L

Osasuna form (all competitions):

L

W

W

D

L

L

Team News

Mallorca are again expected to be without the services of Martin Valjent through injury, but Aguirre's side have no fresh concerns from their loss to Real Betis last time out.

There were certainly positives to take from the performance, so it would not be a surprise to see largely the same side for this match, although Tino Kadewere is likely to be brought into the XI.

Antonio Sanchez could also start in midfield, but Vedat Muriqi will again lead the line, with the 28-year-old finding the back of the net on 10 occasions in Spain's top flight this term.

As for Osasuna, Ruben Pena is still on the sidelines with a leg injury, while Darko Brasanac is suspended due to the yellow card that he picked up against Villarreal.

Head coach Arrasate will certainly have one eye on next week's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg with Athletic, but a strong XI should still be sent onto the field for this match.

Ante Budimir started on the bench against Villarreal but is expected to be brought back into the side here, with Kike Barja potentially dropping out for the visitors.

Meanwhile, fresh from making his debut for Spain against Scotland, David Garcia will line up in the middle of the defence for Los Rojillos.

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Rajkovic; Maffeo, Raillo, Nastasic, Costa; Ruiz de Galarreta, Sanchez, D Rodriguez; Kadewere, Muriqi, Kang-in

Osasuna possible starting lineup:

Fernandez; Vidal, Aridane, D Garcia, M Sanchez; Moncayola, Torro, M Gomez; Avila, Budimir, Ezzalzouli

We say: Mallorca 1-1 Osasuna

There have been seven draws in the last 10 La Liga meetings between these two sides, and we are struggling to separate them in this match. Osasuna have only lost four times away from home this season, drawing six, while Mallorca have lost just four league games in front of their own fans, so we have had to settle on a stalemate.

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