Preview: Mallorca vs. Real Sociedad - prediction, team news, lineups

The away side are currently fourth in the table, three points ahead of fifth-placed Real Betis, while Mallorca occupy 10th position, collecting 31 points from their 24 matches during a solid season.

Match preview

Mallorca will be delighted with their position in the table at this stage of the campaign, picking up 31 points from their 24 matches to sit 10th, six points ahead of the relegation zone.

Javier Aguirre's side are actually only four points behind seventh-placed Rayo Vallecano, but a recent disappointing run has seen them collect just three points from their last four matches.

Mallorca will enter this weekend's contest off the back of successive losses to Espanyol and Elche, with the team at the bottom of the division beating them 1-0 last time out.

The Pirates finished 16th in La Liga last term on their return to the top flight, which has been their highest position at this level since 2012, so it has been a strong season despite their recent wobble.

Mallorca have picked up 20 points from their 12 matches in front of their own supporters this season, but they will be welcoming a Real Sociedad outfit with the third-best away record, having claimed 25 points from their 12 La Liga fixtures on their travels in 2022-23.

Real Sociedad, as mentioned, will bring a four-game winless run into this contest, having drawn two and lost one of their last three league matches, including a 0-0 with Cadiz on March 3.

The Basque outfit have dropped from third in the table to fourth, and they are now just three points ahead of fifth-placed Real Betis, leaving them looking over their shoulder at a vital stage of the season.

Imanol Alguacil's side will also enter this match off the back of a disappointing result in Europe on Thursday, suffering a 2-0 loss to Roma in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League contest.

The La Liga outfit now have a mountain to climb in the second leg next week, but they must first focus on returning to winning ways in the league, as Real Betis will have their eyes on a top-four spot at this stage.

The White and Blues have actually won each of their last six La Liga matches against Mallorca, with their last defeat to the Pirates in Spain's top flight coming back in September 2012.

Mallorca La Liga form:

L

W

L

W

L

L

Real Sociedad La Liga form:

D

L

W

D

L

D

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):

L

W

D

L

D

L

Team News

Mallorca will be without the services of leading goalscorer Vedat Muriqi due to the booking that the forward picked up in the home loss to Elche last time out.

Muriqi, who has struck 11 goals in all competitions this season, is likely to be replaced by Abdon Prats.

Mallorca did not suffer any fresh fitness problems against Elche, but Dennis Hadzikadunic is unavailable through illness, while Daniel Luna is out with a shoulder problem.

Antonio Sanchez could also come into the starting XI alongside Prats, with Lee Kang-in moving into a more advanced area for the home team.

As for Real Sociedad, Aritz Elustondo, Sadiq Umar and Martin Merquelanz remain on the sidelines through injury, while Alguacil will need to assess the fitness of the players involved on Thursday night.

There will be changes from the side that started in Rome, with Mikel Oyarzabal and Brais Mendez set to return in attack and midfield respectively.

Ander Barrenetxea is expected to be given the nod at right-back, but Alexander Sorloth and Takefusa Kubo should retain their positions in the attacking areas.

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Rajkovic; Valjent, Raillo, Copete; Maffeo, Ruiz de Galarreta, A Sanchez, Costa; Kadewere, Prats, Kang-in

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Barrenetxea, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Rico; Mendez, Zubimendi, Marin; Kubo, Sorloth, Oyarzabal

We say: Mallorca 1-1 Real Sociedad

This is a really tough match for Real Sociedad off the back of an energy-zapping contest in Rome. Mallorca's recent form has been disappointing, but we believe that the home team will have enough quality to claim a share of the spoils in Sunday's affair.

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