Celta Vigo will be aiming to stretch their unbeaten run in La Liga to eight matches when they continue their campaign with a clash against Mallorca at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix on Saturday evening.
The away side are currently eighth in the La Liga table, boasting 40 points from 29 matches, while Mallorca are ninth on the same number of points, with the two sides looking to chase down Real Betis in sixth.
Match preview
© Imago
Mallorca have won 11, drawn seven and lost 11 of their 29 league matches this season to collect 40 points, which has left them in ninth spot in the table, seven points behind sixth-placed Real Betis in the race for European football.
Jagoba Arrasate‘s side are among the lowest goalscorers in the division this season, only finding the back of the net on 28 occasions, but they have been relatively strong defensively, conceding just 35 times.
Mallorca will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Valencia, which was their first loss in Spain’s top flight since the start of February, with 1-1 proving to be their favourite scoreline of late.
Indeed, it has finished 1-1 in four of the team’s last seven league games, which has prevented them from pushing further up the division, but ninth at this stage of the campaign represents a solid showing from the Pirates.
Mallorca have picked up 23 points from their 15 league matches on home soil this season, and they will be welcoming a Celta side that have just two victories from their 14 away league games during the 2024-25 campaign.
© Imago
Celta drew 1-1 with Las Palmas on Monday night, with that result stretching their unbeaten run in La Liga to seven matches, with their last loss proving to be a 2-1 reverse to Valencia at the start of February.
Claudio Giraldez‘s team have been outstanding at home this term, picking up 30 points from 15 matches courtesy of a record of nine wins, three draws and three defeats, but they have found it difficult on their travels.
Celta have an identical record to Mallorca this season in terms of wins, draws and losses in La Liga, but they sit ahead of Saturday’s opponents due to their superior head-to-head record.
Indeed, the Sky Blues recorded a 2-0 victory in Vigo earlier this season, while it was 1-1 when the pair locked horns for the corresponding match during the 2023-24 campaign.
That said, Mallorca have won three of the last five La Liga matches between the two sides, and Celta’s away-day struggles make this a fascinating match, especially as both still have outside chances of sneaking into a European spot this term.
Team News
© Imago
Mallorca have doubts over Vedat Muriqi, Cyle Larin and Robert Navarro this weekend, while Samu Costa and Antonio Raillo will miss out due to the milestone yellow cards that they picked up against Valencia last time out.
Should Muriqi and Larin both miss out once again, then it could be a front two of Abdon Prats and Takuma Asano, while Costa’s absence from midfield will open the door for Dani Rodriguez to feature.
There is also expected to be a spot at the back for Johan Mojica due to Raillo’s suspension, with the 32-year-old potentially being asked to operate as the left-sided centre-back in a 5-3-2 formation.
As for Celta, Williot Swedberg is a doubt due to a thigh problem, but the visitors are otherwise in excellent shape.
Oscar Mingueza missed out against Las Palmas last time out through suspension, but the former Barcelona defender is back for this match and is expected to come into the starting side.
Alfon Gonzalez was on the scoresheet against Las Palmas and is set to keep hold of his spot, but there could be a change in a wide area, with Fer Lopez possibly coming in for Iker Losada down the right.
Mallorca possible starting lineup:
Greif; Maffeo, D Lopez, Copete, Mojica, Lato; Morlanes, D Rodriguez, Darder; Asano, Prats
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; J Rodriguez, Starfelt, Alonso; Carreira, D Rodriguez, Moriba, Mingueza; F Lopez, Iglesias, A Gonzalez
We say: Mallorca 0-0 Celta Vigo
Mallorca are again expected to be light in the final third of the field, while Celta’s struggles on the road make them difficult to back; we are expecting it to be a tight game on Saturday, with the points potentially being shared in a goalless draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
