Mallorca - Barcelona predictions and free betting tips [26/09/2023]

On Tuesday 26th September, in the 7th round of the Spanish La Liga, Mallorca will host Barcelona on their home ground. The Catalans have accumulated 16 points in six matches and are currently top of the league table, while the Islanders are 15th with five points to their credit.

Predicted line-ups

Mallorca: Rajkovic; Maffeo, Valjent, Nastasic, Copete, Lato; D Rodriguez, Morlanes, Costa, Prats; Muriqi.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Cancelo, Kounde, Araujo, Balde; Gundogan, Romeu, Gavi; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Felix. 

Stadium

The match will take place in Palma de Mallorca at the stadium of the same name.

Mallorca

The Islanders haven't had the best start to the new season, securing just one victory by defeating Celta Vigo 1-0. Over the weekend, the Palma-based team visited the in-form Girona and were trounced 5-3. The Islanders took the lead in just the fourth minute courtesy of Vedat Muriqi, but then conceded five times, with Abdon Prats scoring a brace in the dying moments to show some respectability. Last season, Mallorca was formidable at home, but in the current La Liga campaign, the red and oranges have lost at home to Villarreal (0-1) and drew with Athletic Bilbao (0-0). Consequently, the hosts are only 16th in the overall standings with five points, a single point above the drop zone. On Tuesday, the team will be without the excellent Rayo (2 goals, 3 assists last season) and newcomer Oscar Mascerell (transferred from Elche, with 28 La Liga appearances last season) due to injuries.

Barcelona

Blaugrana have started the season well, despite a goalless draw with Getafe in the first round, followed by an impressive run of four victories, including the demolition of Real Betis (5-0) after the international break. Over the weekend, Xavi's charges secured their fifth La Liga victory, overcoming Celta Vigo 3-2. The Crusaders were leading 2-0 until the final ten minutes when a brace from Robert Lewandowski and a goal from João Cancelo completed the comeback, placing Barcelona at the top of the table with 16 points. Meanwhile, the Catalans made an impressive start to the Champions League, overcoming Belgian champions Antwerp 5-0. Xavi's side will face Sevilla after the trip to Mallorca, followed by a visit to Porto in early October for the second round of the Champions League.

Uruguayan Ronald Araujo, the team's primary central defender, returned to the Catalan squad for the match against Celta Vigo last weekend. However, there are some concerns: Pedri has been out since August with an injury, and Frenkie de Jong sustained an injury on Saturday that will probably keep him out for the coming month. Among the other players, the coaching staff can count on Lewandowski (last season's top La Liga scorer), who scored a brace last weekend, Portuguese newcomers João Cancelo (Manchester City, on loan) and João Felix (transferred from Atletico Madrid), Gundogan (transferred from Manchester City), Romeu (transferred from Girona this summer) and a defence that includes Balde, Kounde, Iñigo Martínez and captain Ter Stegen, last year's best La Liga player.

Head-to-head meetings

Barcelona has won each of their last 11 matches against Mallorca in the league, with the Islanders not having beaten the Catalans since May 2009.

Mallorca v Barcelona match prediction

Mallorca poses a challenge for any opponent on their home ground, but at the moment, Barcelona looks like a relentless machine with no weaknesses and are churning out victories one after the other. Given the upcoming rigorous calendar, Xavi might opt for rotation, which won't provide much relief to the hosts. My prediction is a Barcelona victory.

Total prediction

Barca has scored the most goals in La Liga (16), and Mallorca has conceded 10 in the same span of six opening rounds. It's a safe bet to place on the guests’ ITO 1.5.

Corner prediction

Barcelona surpasses the hosts in class, and will pin Mallorca to their half from the get-go. My corner prediction is a win for the visitors with a -1.5 handicap.

Yellow card prediction

Mallorca is significantly inferior to the Catalans in skill and will need to foul a lot, resulting in more yellow cards.

Score prediction

I'm predicting a final score of 0-2 in favour of Barcelona.