Granada’s endeavor to ascend from the relegation quagmire within Spain’s premier football league persists as they prepare to confront Mallorca in Palma on Saturday afternoon.
Presently occupying the 19th position in the La Liga standings, Granada finds themselves ten points adrift of the security of the 17th place, while Mallorca comfortably holds the 15th position, maintaining a five-point cushion over 18th-placed Cadiz.
Match preview
Mallorca is set to contend with Athletic Bilbao in the upcoming Copa del Rey final scheduled for early April, with the club earnestly striving to secure a significant trophy. However, their position as a top-tier team for the forthcoming season remains precarious.
Presently, Los Piratas occupy the 15th position in the La Liga standings, holding a slender five-point lead over the relegation zone, necessitating unwavering focus in Spain’s premier league.
Javier Aguirre’s squad will approach this fixture following a 1-0 defeat against Barcelona, yet they have garnered seven points from their preceding five league encounters, a commendable achievement considering their standing in the league hierarchy.
Throughout the ongoing season, Mallorca has accrued 19 points from 14 home fixtures, enduring merely three losses in the process, a commendable record instilling confidence as the campaign enters its final stages.
Nevertheless, the Copa del Rey finalists have endured a string of defeats in their recent La Liga outings against Granada, failing to overcome their forthcoming opponents in Spain’s top-flight since March 2013.
On the other hand, Granada will enter the upcoming match fresh from a 3-2 defeat at home against Real Sociedad, marking consecutive losses following a 5-1 setback against Villarreal earlier this month.
Alexander Medina’s ensemble has faltered in securing a league victory since the onset of January, languishing in the 19th spot in the table, trailing 17th-placed Celta Vigo by a daunting 10 points, albeit with a game in reserve.
Granada faces an uphill task to evade relegation, with their current campaign marred by disappointment despite being champions of the Segunda Division. With only two league triumphs this season and a joint-worst defensive record, conceding 57 goals, they find themselves in a precarious situation akin to basement side Almeria.
Moreover, Granada’s dismal performance extends to their away fixtures, managing a mere two points from 13 matches. However, their recent dominance over Mallorca in La Liga, boasting a five-game winning streak, offers a glimmer of hope amidst the prevailing challenges.
Team News
Mallorca faces uncertainty regarding the availability of three players, namely Matija Nastasic, Martin Valjent, and Pablo Maffeo, who require last-minute fitness assessments ahead of the upcoming contest. Meanwhile, Samu Costa will be indisputably absent for the hosts due to suspension, a consequence of a yellow card received in the previous match against Barcelona.
In midfield, Dani Rodriguez is anticipated to fill the void left by Costa’s absence. Apart from this change, the starting lineup for Mallorca may remain unchanged from the previous encounter against Barcelona, with Abdon Prats and Antonio Sanchez likely to begin the match on the bench.
On the opposing side, Granada will be without Jesus Vallejo due to a thigh injury, while Sergio Ruiz is set to serve a suspension following a crucial booking received during the match against Real Sociedad. Martin Hongla is expected to assume Ruiz’s position in midfield, and Theo Corbeanu could potentially be introduced into the wide areas.
Notably, Myrto Uzuni, who has netted nine goals in La Liga this season, including a brace against Real Sociedad, is poised to lead Granada’s attacking front alongside Lucas Boye.
Mallorca possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Gonzalez, Nastasic, Raillo, Copete, Lato; Darder, D Rodriguez, Morlanes; Muriqi, Larin
Granada possible starting lineup:
Batalla; R Sanchez, Mendez, Miquel, Neva; Pellistri, Hongla, Gumbau, Corbeanu; Boye, Uzuni