Mallorca vs Real Madrid prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-08-17 19:30.
[p]As Mallorca embark on a new season, there’s definite room for improvement on last term’s 15th-place finish (W8, D16, L14) and a new look to some areas of the squad after goalkeeper Predrag Rajković departed for Saudi Arabia earlier this month. Former Osasuna boss Jagoba Arrasate has replaced Javier Aguirre in the dugout too, and results during pre-season were good (W6, D1), although a fight among players broke out during a 1-0 win over West Brom following Samú Costa’s foul on Jayson Molumby.[/p]
[p]While that might suggest that the Pirates are up for the challenge, they’ll need to watch their discipline as they were one of six La Liga sides to receive more than 100 cards of any colour last term. As five of their last six home league matches finished 1-0 (W3, D1, L2), the officials might be busier noting down players’ names for bookings rather than goals![/p]
[p]One of those games was Real Madrid’s win at Son Moix in April, and Los Blancos arrive in Mallorca with silverware already in the bag after beating Atalanta 2-0 to win the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday. And with Kylian MbappĂ© – who opened his account in midweek – and Endrick now amidst their ranks, the 36-time La Liga winners have strengthened further in the summer – ominously for the rest of the division.[/p]
[p]The reigning Spanish and European champions might be unbeaten in competitive fixtures since mid-January (W19, D8), but they were beaten on this ground in February 2023 – predictably enough, via a 1-0 scoreline! That will ensure that Carlo Ancelotti’s side cannot be complacent, despite scoring exactly four times in three of their final five La Liga away games last season (W4, D1), as for the sixth season in a row Real start their league campaign on the road.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Sergi Darder netted in two of Mallorca’s final three games last season, with both coming after the 60th minute to help his side salvage a draw. After setting up Mbappé’s goal on Wednesday, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham will be keen to build on a stellar debut season in which he directly contributed to 25 goals in La Liga last term (G19, A6).[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Real Madrid haven’t lost a La Liga opener since 2008/09 (W11, D4).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]