MX23RW : Friday, February 21 11:19:32| >> :600:10891632:10891632:
Oct 19, 2019 at 8pm UK at ​Iberostar Estadi (Palma de Mallorca)
Attendance: 20,275
Mallorca
1-0
Real Madrid
Junior (7')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Odriozola (74')

Preview: Mallorca vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews the La Liga clash between Mallorca and Real Madrid at the Estadi de Son Moix, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Mallorca and Real Madrid meet for the first time in seven years when Zinedine Zidane's side travel to the Estadi de Son Moix on Saturday evening.

Los Blancos will be glad to have this fixture back on the La Liga calendar as they have only lost on one of their last eight trips to the Balearic Islands.


Match preview

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane pictured on September 25, 2019© Reuters

Real Madrid could have been knocked off the top of the La Liga table by the time they face Mallorca as Barcelona's lunchtime visit to Eibar gives them the chance to leapfrog their fierce rivals despite Lionel Messi and company starting the season a little slowly.

Los Blancos are the only unbeaten team in the division and strung together four successive league wins prior to an international break which was historic for Spain, who fielded a lineup consisting of players from 11 different clubs for the first time in 99 years.

It was a big summer of change at the Bernabeu but it is one of their old guard, Karim Benzema, who has been their star man so far with six goals in eight league games.

Marquee signing Eden Hazard has yet to transition his Chelsea form to his new club, managing just a goal and assist apiece in his six appearances, and Ferland Mendy and Luka Jovic are also struggling to displace the established names in Zidane's preferred outfit.

Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema celebrate during Real Madrid's La Liga clash with Real Valladolid on August 24, 2019© Reuters

Mallorca, promoted last season via the Segunda Division playoff, find themselves in the relegation zone but have won two of their four home matches since returning to the Spanish top flight.

The last time Los Bermellones hosted Madrid, in 2012, they were on the end of a 5-0 drubbing - one of five straight defeats in this fixture - in which Cristiano Ronaldo scored two of his newly-reached 700 career goal milestone.

The only Real survivors from that encounter are centre-back partners Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, a formidable pairing but one which have only kept a single clean sheet in nine matches together this term - in last month's goalless draw with Atletico Madrid.

However, Mallorca have not exactly been free scoring upon stepping back up to La Liga, failing to find the net on five occasions with striker Ante Budimir responsible for three of the six goals they have managed, something which may concern head coach Vicente Moreno.

Mallorca form: DLLLW

Real Madrid form: WWDDW


Team News

Real Madrid midfielder Isco celebrates scoring during his side's Champions League clash with Roma on September 19, 2018© Reuters

Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are both doubts for the visitors after picking up knocks on international duty which could give a chance to give Isco, a favourite of Zidane's first reign, the chance to regain his place in the team - the 27-year-old has only started once this season.

Gareth Bale also sustained a slight injury over the break but is expected to start, with Zidane having used the Welshman consistently despite his summer transfer saga. James Rodriguez and Vinicus Junior are on standby to complete the forward three alongside Benzema and Hazard.

Zidane has a choice between Marcelo and Mendy at left-back but otherwise Madrid's back five picks itself with Nacho Fernandez, along with winger Marco Asensio, still sidelined.

Mallorca are without Juan Hernandez, Baba Rahman and Aleksandar Sedlar but defender Antonio Raillo is fit again after being forced off last time out against Espanyol, meaning that Moreno could start with the same XI from that 2-0 win.

Mallorca possible starting lineup: Reina; Sastre, Valjent, Raillo, Ganez; Febas, Baba, Sevilla; Junior, Rodriguez, Budimir

Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Casemiro, Valverde; Bale, Isco, Hazard; Benzema


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Mallorca 0-3 Real Madrid

Mallorca have largely found life hard going back in La Liga and Real will be the biggest example yet of the step up in class.

If Hazard, Benzema and Bale can show any signs of some fledgling chemistry then they could steamroller the hosts, but it may be the clean sheet which would be most precious to Zidane.


body check tags ::
Share this article now:
New Instagram promo
Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema celebrate during Real Madrid's La Liga clash with Real Valladolid on August 24, 2019
Read Next:
How Real Madrid could line up against Granada
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.

rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool26251061154676
2Manchester CityMan City26173667293854
3Leicester CityLeicester26155654262850
4Chelsea2612594336741
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs2611784334940
6Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2610972824439
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd2610883829938
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2681263532336
9Everton26106103438-436
10Arsenal2671363634234
11Burnley26104123039-934
12Southampton2694133248-1631
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2687112440-1631
14Crystal Palace2679102332-930
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2669113138-727
16Bournemouth2675142640-1426
17Aston Villa2674153450-1625
18West Ham UnitedWest Ham2666143045-1524
19Watford2659122440-1624
20Norwich CityNorwich2646162448-2418

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!