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

The visitors are without a victory in their last five matches in all competitions, but Mallorca will enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 home success over Rayo Vallecano.

Match preview

Mallorca boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 success over Rayo last time out, with Vedat Muriqi's 91st-minute effort securing a huge three points for Javier Aguirre's side.

Los Piratas finished ninth in Spain's top flight last season, but they have struggled to reach those heights this term, with the team currently down in 16th position in the table.

Aguirre's team are six points ahead of 18th-placed Cadiz, so their work is certainly not done in terms of survival, but the success over Rayo last time out was a big one, especially as it followed successive losses to Real Betis and Athletic Bilbao.

Mallorca have been tough to beat at home in the league this season, only losing twice, but they have won just three times, drawing a league-high seven matches on their own patch.

Los Bermellones have not managed to overcome Real Sociedad in Spain's top flight since September 2011, and they suffered a 1-0 defeat in the reverse league match earlier this season.

These two sides are currently battling for a spot in the final of the Copa del Rey, meanwhile, with the first leg of their semi-final producing a goalless draw on February 6.

Real Sociedad will bring a five-game winless run in all competitions into this match, including defeats in their last two against Osasuna and Paris Saint-Germain.

Imanol Alguacil's side suffered a surprise 1-0 home loss to Osasuna in the league on February 10 before going down 2-0 away to PSG in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash on Wednesday night.

Real Sociedad have played a lot of football this season and have a lot more to come in a short space of time, with the second legs of their Copa del Rey and Champions League ties set to be played before March 5, in addition to league games with Mallorca, Villarreal and Sevilla.

La Real finished fourth in Spain's top flight last season, but they are currently seventh in the table, some 11 points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid and just two points above ninth-placed Valencia.

Mallorca La Liga form:

L

D

D

L

L

W

Mallorca form (all competitions):

D

W

L

L

D

W

Real Sociedad La Liga form:

D

L

W

D

D

L

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):

W

D

D

D

L

L

Team News

Mallorca will be missing two players on Sunday through injury, with Martin Valjent and Pablo Maffeo unavailable for selection, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape.

Cyle Larin is back from a suspension, which might mean a change of formation, with head coach Aguirre unlikely to be prepared to drop Muriqi.

Nacho Vidal could be the player to drop out to allow Larin to return, but it might otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Rayo last time out.

As for Real Sociedad, Carlos Fernandez, Aihen Munoz, Martin Merquelanz, Kieran Tierney, Alvaro Odriozola and Sheraldo Becker are out of the contest through injury.

Meanwhile, Aritz Elustondo and Mikel Oyarzabal remain major doubts for the away side this weekend.

Head coach Alguacil is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack from the side that took to the field for the first whistle against PSG, but there could be a change at centre-forward, with Umar Sadiq potentially coming in for Andre Silva.

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Rajkovic; Gonzalez, Raillo, Nastasic, Costa; A Sanchez, Mascarell, Darder, D Rodriguez; Muriqi, Larin

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Traore, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Galan; B Mendez, Zubimendi, Merino; Kubo, Sadiq, Barrenetxea

We say: Mallorca 1-1 Real Sociedad

Mallorca have been very difficult to beat at home in La Liga this season, suffering just two defeats, while Real Sociedad have won only four of their 12 league games on their travels. The Basque outfit are in need of a win, but we are fully expecting the points to be shared on Sunday.

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