Mallorca vs Alaves prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-12-02 13:00.
A potentially difficult period awaits Mallorca without their injured star striker Vedat Muriqi. Their midweek game against Cádiz, which was postponed originally so Muriqi could take part in a rescheduled international for Kosovo against Israel, finished in a disappointing 1-1 draw that left Mallorca just two points above the relegation zone. They remain winless at home this LL season (D5, L1) despite being the pre-match favourites on four occasions, highlighting that missed opportunities continue to cost them.
A frustrated head coach Javier Aguirre conceded that his team “has to play better” and eliminate the “mistakes and distractions” that are costing them dearly. With there being just eight points between 12th-placed Villarreal and 19th-placed Granada at the start of the round, defeating bottom-half opponents at home could be crucial to Mallorca’s survival hopes.
That logjam includes their next opponents AlavĂ©s, who had another long and welcome recovery after playing the Friday evening fixture of the previous round in which they were far too good for relegation contenders Granada, brushing them aside 3-1. They started this round a reasonably comfortable seven points above the relegation zone, having taken maximum returns in their last two LL games at home to Granada and AlmerĂa.
That stands in stark contrast with some wasted opportunities on the road, the most recent of which was a 2-1 loss to Barcelona in spite of scoring within the first minute of the match. It’ll no doubt be an emotional return to Estadi Mallorca Son Moix for Alavés boss Luis Garcia Plaza, who steered Mallorca to LL promotion in 2020/21. This will be the first time he faces Mallorca in more than ten years, and it would be the perfect time for Alavés to collect their first LL away win of 2023/24 (D2, L5).
Players to watch: Two of Abdón Prats’ eight competitive goals this season came in LL draws at home to Barcelona and, most recently, Cádiz during the week. Nineteen-year-old Alavés striker Samu Omorodion will have a lot of high profile clubs interested in his signature if he continues his goalscoring form. On four separate occasions this LL season he has recorded their opening goal of an away game!
Hot streak: Mallorca’s last six LL games all produced fewer than 2.5 total goals.