Real Sociedad vs Mallorca prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2022-10-18 18:00.
Real Sociedad boast their longest winning streak of their nearly 200 competitive matches with Imanol Alguacil in charge, as their 2-1 triumph away to Celta Vigo at the weekend secured a seventh-straight win across all competitions. Sitting just one point behind their nine-game start to the previous two LL seasons, that victory lifted Sociedad closer to the La Liga (LL) top four as they mount another challenge for a UEFA Champions League spot.
Alguacil has been in the job long enough to know seasons aren’t defined in October, and has been publicly demanding humility and an unerring focus from his players, telling them: “Be honest, be humble, keep working and think that we haven't done anything.” Occasional slip-ups such as defeat to Getafe in September are reminders of their imperfections, but they have every reason to be confident of disposing of Mallorca after nine wins from their last 11 matches as home favourites across all competitions (D1, L1).
Despite their mid-table position, Mallorca seem to be once again flirting with the relegation zone, completing the ninth round just two points ahead of AlmerĂa in the final relegation spot. Efficiency in front of goal will be an area that manager Javier Aguirre needs to address, not least because his side conjured up the most goal attempts in all three games of their current LL winless run (D1, L2).
Concerningly for Mallorca as far as this match is concerned, they have lost all four encounters with LL clubs to have finished seventh or higher last season following 1-0 home defeats to Barcelona and Sevilla earlier this month. With no more than one goal to their name in each of their last six LL games against any opposition, Mallorca will have to avoid a repeat of the defensive sloppiness that saw them concede the only goal of the game against Sevilla at the weekend.
Players to watch: Brais MĂ©ndez has provided the goal that has given Sociedad a half-time lead in each of their last two LL home fixtures. Meanwhile, Lee Kang-in will be the only Mallorca player to have scored away from home this LL season in the absence of the suspended Vedat Muriqi.
Hot stat: Just one of Mallorca’s nine LL matches this season has seen more than one first-half goal.