The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the upcoming La Liga match between Real Madrid and RCD Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu.
La Liga football resumes this week after the winter break with a rare midweek matchday. Real Madrid and RCD Mallorca will be in action on Wednesday evening, with both teams eager to clinch a win for different reasons.
Many have been surprised to see Real Madrid dominating the opposition despite a gamut of fitness issues bothering the first-team squad. But Carlo Ancelotti’s men are perched atop La Liga, level on points with the high-flying Girona. As for RCD Mallorca, the visitors have picked up form in the last few weeks, going six games without a defeat.
Where to Watch Real Madrid vs RCD Mallorca?
Real Madrid vs RCD Mallorca will kick off at 6:15 pm GMT at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday. Viaplay Sports 1 will broadcast the match in the UK, while readers in India can watch it on Sports 18 1 and the Jio Cinema app. Viewers in the USA can catch the fixture on ESPN+.
Form
Real Madrid: WWDWWW
As iterated earlier, Real Madrid’s form this season has been excellent. The Merengues have barely lost games this term, with their most recent defeat coming in September. Since then, they have been on a 17-game unbeaten run, winning their most recent three fixtures (Union Berlin, Villarreal and Deportivo Alaves).
RCD Mallorca: DDWWDW
RCD Mallorca began the 2023/24 campaign poorly, struggling to stitch an unbeaten run. But they have not lost any of their last six matches, emerging victorious in three of those outings. Victories over fellow mid-table clubs Osasuna and Sevilla have helped their case. The recent run of results has lifted them from 17th to 14th in the standings.
Head-to-Head Record
Real Madrid and RCD Mallorca have previously locked horns 70 times, with Los Blancos having a favourable head-to-head record with 42 wins (D12 L16). But the most recent fixture ended in a shock 1-0 victory for Mallorca. But that is their only success in five meetings, with Real Madrid comfortably winning the other four games.
Key Stats
- Real Madrid lost the most recent La Liga game against RCD Mallorca. They have not faced a defeat in consecutive meetings in the competition since 2001.
- Real Madrid have won their last seven La Liga matches at home against RCD Mallorca, scoring 24 goals in these outings.
- After a run of two wins in three La Liga games away from home against teams from Madrid, RCD Mallorca are winless in their last five such outings in the competition.
- Real Madrid have conceded only 11 goals in their first 18 games in La Liga this season, their lowest tally at this stage of the season in the history of the competition.
- Real Madrid have not lost a home game in 18 outings in all competitions. Should they clinch an unbeaten result on Wednesday, they will equal their best run at the Santiago Bernabeu under Carlo Ancelotti (19 between April 2022 and February 2023 — W14 D5).
Prediction and Betting Tips
An injury crisis has not adversely affected Real Madrid thus far this season. That should not start on Wednesday, even though RCD Mallorca’s recent form is promising. So, we are backing Real Madrid to win.
With Carlo Ancelotti barely having any fit defenders, keeping a clean sheet might be a tall order for Real Madrid. So, the visitors might fancy their chances of finding the back of the net on Wednesday. We expect both teams to score.
