La Liga | Gameweek 17

Dec 14, 2024 at 3.15pm UK

Estadio Iberoamericano 2010

Mallorcavs.Girona

Match preview

Mallorca ended November with back-to-back wins over Las Palmas and Valencia, but it has not been a happy start to December, suffering successive losses to Barcelona and Celta, conceding seven times in the process.

Jagoba Arrasate's side boast a record of seven wins, three draws and seven defeats from their 17 league matches this season, which has left them in eighth spot in the La Liga table on 24 points, just two points behind fifth-placed Villarreal.

Goals have been a problem this term, with just 16 in their 17 games, but they have been relatively strong defensively, conceding just 20, one more than leaders Barcelona.

Mallorca have won three, drawn three and lost three of their nine league games at home this season, and they welcome a Girona side with a record of two wins, three draws and three defeats from eight away games.

The Pirates recorded a 1-0 win over Girona in the corresponding fixture in the 2023-24 campaign, and they will certainly be the fresher of the two Spanish top-flight sides going into this weekend's clash.

Indeed, Girona were in European action on Tuesday night when they lost 1-0 at home to Liverpool, a result that left them 30th in the Champions League standings with just three points from six games.

In fact, the Catalan side have lost their last three games in three different competitions, going out on penalties to UD Logrones in the Copa del Rey on 4 December and losing 3-0 at home to Real Madrid in La Liga last weekend.

Michel's men have lost four of their last five, their last league win coming against Espanyol on 23 November, and are ninth in the La Liga table with 22 points from 16 games.

However, Girona are only four points behind fifth-placed Villarreal and a positive result in this game would set them up well for their final game of the year at home to bottom side Real Valladolid on 20 December.

The White and Reds finished third in La Liga in a historic campaign for the club in 2023-24, and while they have fallen off this term, a top-six finish in 2024-25 would still be another successful campaign.

Recent Performance

Mallorca La Liga form:LLWWLL

Girona La Liga form:LWWWDL

Girona form (all competitions):WLDLLL

Team News

Mallorca will again be without Toni Lato, Copete and Ivan Cuellar through injury, while Antonio Raillo is suspended after being sent off against Celta.

Raillo's place is likely to be taken by Johan Mojica, while there is also likely to be a change up front, with Vedat Muriqi in line to start in place of Robert Navarro.

Cyle Larin and Muriqi are expected to form a front two for the home side on Saturday, with Dani Rodriguez and Javi Llabres playing in wide midfield positions.

Girona will be without Bojan Miovski, Viktor Tsygankov and Yangel Herrera through injury, while Ladislav Krejci is suspended after picking up a yellow card against Real Madrid.

Daley Blind is expected to replace Krejci in the back four, while Arnaut Danjuma is likely to operate in the middle in Miovski's absence, although Portu, Cristhian Stuani and Abel Ruiz are also options.

There will be changes to the side that started against Liverpool in the Champions League, with Ivan Martin and Arnau Martinez set to return to the starting XI against Mallorca.

Possible starting lineup

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Greif; Morey, Valjent, Van der Heyden, Mojica; Mascarell, S Costa; D Rodriguez, Llabres; Larin, Muriqi

Girona possible starting lineup:

Gazzaniga; A Martinez, Lopez, Blind, Gutierrez; Martin, Romeu; Asprilla, Van de Beek, Gil; Danjuma