Mallorca: Poor Form and a Drop in the Standings
At one point, Mallorca looked like a serious contender for European qualification, but 2024 has not started well for them. Jagoba Arrasate’s team has fallen into a series of poor results that have pushed them out of the top six in La Liga, and they now sit in ninth place.
Their losing streak began with an elimination from the Copa del Rey against Pontevedra, followed by a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals. In La Liga, they have suffered three consecutive losses against Villarreal, Real Betis, and Atletico Madrid, failing to score in any of those matches. This slump has left them five points behind the sixth-place spot that leads to European competitions, while they are only two points ahead of 12th-placed Sevilla.
Another issue for Mallorca is their inconsistency at home. They have only collected 15 points from 11 home matches, which is not an impressive record for a team with European ambitions. However, their advantage in this match could be the fact that Osasuna has struggled away from home.
Mallorca will likely rely on the attacking duo of Larin and Muriqi to turn things around, while the return of Omar Mascarell from suspension should bring more stability to their midfield. However, the absence of Antonio Sanchez could be felt.
Osasuna: Solid Form but Struggles Away from Home
Osasuna enters this match in a much better mood than their opponents. Although they were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Real Sociedad, they are unbeaten in their last three La Liga matches, drawing against Rayo Vallecano and Las Palmas before securing a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad.
Currently sitting in eighth place with 30 points, Osasuna remains in the hunt for European qualification. However, their away form remains a significant concern. They have collected just eight points from ten away matches, which is not enough for a team aspiring to climb higher in the standings.
Osasuna already defeated Mallorca 1-0 earlier this season at home, but in their last meeting in Palma de Mallorca, the home side won 3-2. Another key statistic is that nine of their last 14 encounters have ended in a draw, highlighting how evenly matched these teams are.
Osasuna’s main attacking threat is Ante Budimir, who is having an excellent season with 12 La Liga goals to his name. The good news for the visitors is the return of Bryan Zaragoza, although he may not yet be ready for the starting lineup. Lucas Torro is expected to return to the midfield after the Copa del Rey clash, while the rest of the squad is likely to remain unchanged.
Betting Tips
Given Mallorca’s poor form and Osasuna’s struggles away from home, this is a difficult match to predict. However, a few betting options stand out:
- Under 2.5 Goals: Mallorca has failed to score in their last three matches, while Osasuna is not particularly prolific on the road. Betting on “0-2 goals” or “both teams NOT to score” could be a reasonable choice.
- Draw: With so many previous encounters ending level, a draw is a strong possibility and could offer good betting value.
- Budimir to Score: Considering his excellent form, betting on Budimir as a goalscorer might be a solid pick.
- Over 9.5 Corners: Both teams play direct football and have strong aerial players, which could lead to a high number of corners.
Conclusion
The match between Mallorca and Osasuna is likely to be tight and competitive, but Osasuna has a slight edge due to their better recent form. However, given the history of their head-to-head encounters, a draw seems like the most realistic outcome.
