Mallorca vs Celta Vigo prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-01-19 20:00.
Mallorca are sandwiched almost directly between the top four and the relegation zone both in terms of positions and points, with plenty of time remaining for them to go either way in what continues to still be their best start to a La Liga (LL) campaign since 2010/11. Manager Javier Aguirre described the recent visit to Osasuna as “hard working” and “very organised”, although it did ultimately deliver no goals or points (L 1-0).
Aguirre was at least reminded of his capabilities as a manager when he returned to El Sadar Stadium, where he helped Osasuna reach the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds for the first time in the mid-2000s. That was a timely motivator ahead of a difficult February that includes league encounters with Real Madrid and Villarreal. Mallorca, therefore, need to make the most of their fixtures with lower-ranked clubs such as Celta Vigo, and with an unbeaten five-game run (W3, D2) against their Galician opponents at Visit Mallorca Estadi, they might feel they can put some more distance between themselves and the brutal relegation battle.
Celta collected exactly the same points as Mallorca over the last four LL rounds without defeat (W1, D3), but still remain just two points ahead of the relegation zone. New manager Carlos Carvalhal also knows the feeling of losing to Osasuna, as he did on his debut as Celta boss back in November. He has since got his team’s defence in excellent shape with just two total goals conceded in their current LL unbeaten run, compared with an average of two goals conceded per game under predecessor Eduardo Coudet!
Up front they continue to be overdependent on ageing 35-year-old star Iago Aspas, who last week admitted that his retirement is now “closer than further”. So far, Aspas has contributed to roughly 40% of Celta’s LL goals for a second consecutive season, whilst the team has not managed to record 2+ goals in any of their last 13 LL outings, leaving Carvalhal appealing to those above for reinforcements.
Players to watch: Vedat Muriqi has now scored in five competitive victories for Mallorca this season, whilst Aspas found the net in his last three H2H starts.
Hot streak: The last nine LL games involving either club all produced fewer than 2.5 total goals.