Espanyol vs Mallorca prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-02-24 13:00.
Relief reverberated around the Espanyol fanbase as a stoppage-time strike saw the Barcelona-based side beat Elche 1-0 last time out – a result that could prove crucial if theyâre to retain their top-flight status. Having played just one campaign outside of La Liga (LL) this century, boss Diego MartĂnez refused to understate the importance of the victory, telling media post-match that the triumph can be a catalyst for their season.
MartĂnez may feel confident his side can secure another momentum-fuelling win when Espanyol host Mallorca, with his side last losing a home H2H to these visitors back in 2011 (W4, D1). Some dreadful LL home form threatens to clip the Periquitosâ wings though, with only basement boys Elche suffering more home defeats so far this campaign (L5), yet thatâs despite Espanyolâs total of 14 home league goals being a better tally than almost half of LL.
Perhaps theyâll be boosted by facing a âJekyll and Hydeâ side in the form of Mallorca, whoâs last nine LL games have alternated between wins and losses (W5, L4). The Piratesâ dramatic 4-2 win over Villarreal last time out means theyâve now strung five consecutive home top-flight triumphs together for the first time since 2012/13, but no travelling league win or goal since the World Cup break (L4) has led manager Javier Aguirre to demand improvement.
Thatâs Mallorcaâs worst goalless run on their LL travels since 2002, yet by sitting just three points off sixth place theyâre still in contention for a first European appearance since 2003/04. Aguirre will know that an improvement in front of goal on their travels is needed if theyâre to scale such heights however, with only four LL sides scoring fewer than their paltry eight away goals ahead of the round.
Players to watch: ââIf you look for commitment in the dictionary, Sergi Darder appearsââ said MartĂnez after the midfielderâs crucial strike in Espanyolâs latest victory. Darder has goals in successive LL games for the first time this season, though he might be upstaged by Dani RodrĂguez considering Mallorca are victorious in each of his three goalscoring appearances since December.
Hot streak: Espanyolâs last three games have all witnessed at least one red card.