Mallorca vs Valladolid prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-01-06 17:30.
Mallorca’s hopes of a first top-half La Liga (LL) finish since 2012 endured a minor setback last time out, as the Pirates ended 2022 with a dour 2-0 loss at Getafe. That result played its part in heightening the potential for drama in the ongoing battle for a top-ten berth, with just two points separating 10th from 15th going into the New Year, a cluster of teams that Valladolid also find themselves in.
On the evidence of a shock 1-0 triumph over Atlético Madrid in their most recent home outing, Mallorca’s pursuit of a top-half finish will likely be defined by small margins and high tension. Notably, none of their home games this term have separated the sides by more than a goal (W2, D2, L3), while both Mallorca wins saw them land fewer shots on target than the day’s visitors.
Losing their own year-ending clash 2-0 against Real Madrid, but winners in each of the last six H2Hs, Valladolid will leapfrog Mallorca with a victory to reignite their own hopes of a top-half finish. That is something they’ve never experienced in three prior LL seasons faced as a newly-promoted team this century, and given the Pucela currently have more points than they did at the same stage in just one of those campaigns, that record could well be set to continue.
At the very least, Valladolid have never been relegated as a newcomer since the turn of the century, but improving on pre-Christmas LL away form (W1, D1, L5) may prove key to killing any fears of that changing. Those five defeats also form the bulk of an unfortunate streak where Valladolid have lost on each of the last seven LL road trips to see them concede first.
Players to watch: Vedat Muriqi scored the winner in Mallorca’s last home outing, making four of his last six first-half league goals decisive. As for Valladolid’s potential matchwinners, Roque Mesa was the hero in his side’s most recent LL victory, and in turn, all of his last four goalscoring games have seen both teams score.
Hot stat: Across their seven prior LL games at Visit Mallorca Estadi, Mallorca have drawn the second half six times – a home league high proportion (86%).