La Liga leaders Real Madrid will look to kick off 2024 on a positive note when they host Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Despite having to deal with a plethora of injuries since the start of the 2023/24 season, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid have everything to play for, and their new year will kick off on Wednesday, as they welcome a resurgent RCD Mallorca to the Bernabeu.
After ending 2023 at the top of the La Liga table, Real Madrid currently sit at the top of the table alongside surprise package Girona, albeit with a better goal difference, and will be looking to pile on the pressure on their inexperienced title rivals during the second half of the season.
Los Blancos secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Deportivo Alaves in their previous La Liga game and will aim to extend a 13-match home unbeaten streak (W11 D2). Mallorca, meanwhile, will look to continue where they left off in 2023, having finished the calendar year with a six-game undefeated streak across all competitions (W3 D3).
After beating Valle Egues and Sevilla without reply in the Copa del Rey and La Liga, respectively, Mallorca settled for a point in a goalless stalemate with basement club Almeria on December 17 before recording a vital 3-2 victory over Osasuna last time out. Los Bermellones currently sit 14th, five points above the relegation zone.
While Mallorca can take solace from their admirable 1-0 home victory against Real Madrid in February, getting anything out of this game will be a tall order for the visitors. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the teams could line up ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News and Tactics
Real Madrid
Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior are expected to return to Real Madrid’s squad for Wednesday’s match against RCD Mallorca. Carvajal has missed the past four games due to a calf issue, while Vinicius has been sidelined with a thigh problem since November.
Carlo Ancelotti may recall Carvajal for this encounter. But he is unlikely to risk Vinicius, who may start the game on the bench. Eduardo Camavinga, who suffered a knee injury while on international duty with France back in November, is also back in contention to return to the fold.
Real Madrid will still be without the services of Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, and Eder Militao, all sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament injuries, while Ferland Mendy is also doubtful.
Ancelotti could choose Andriy Lunin ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal. While Carvajal may be preferred over Lucas Vazquez at right-back, Fran Garcia is set to remain on the left side of the defence. With Nacho banned after being sent off in the victory against Alaves, Aurelien Tchouameni may be forced to play as a temporary centre-back alongside Antonio Rudiger.
Luka Modric should be joined by Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde in the middle of the park. Meanwhile, talismanic midfielder Jude Bellingham is set to line up behind the front two of Brahim Diaz and Rodyrgo.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Garcia; Kroos, Valverde, Modric, Bellingham; Diaz, Rodrygo
RCD Mallorca
Martin Valjent (knee) and Vedat Muriqi (ankle) are both ruled out through injury. Former Real Madrid man Omar Mascarell missed the win over Osasuna through injury after being forced off in the first half against Almeria with discomfort in his left leg. But he could feature in the Mallorca engine room alongside Samu Costa here.
With Jaume Costa set to serve a one-match ban due to yellow card accumulation, Javi Aguirre may consider selecting injury returnee Toni Lato to start in his stead. Jose Manuel Copete could continue in a back three alongside Matija Nastasic and Antonio Raillo, with Pablo Maffeo manning the right flank.
In attack, Canadian striker Cyle Larin will hope to fend off competition from Abdon Prats for a start as the central striker, either side of wingers Antonio Sanchez and Dani Rodriguez.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Rajkovic; Gonzalez, Nastasic, Raillo; Maffeo, S. Costa, Mascarell, Lato; Sanchez, Rodriguez; Larin
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have won eight of their last ten games, keeping five clean sheets.
- Los Blancos have won seven of their past eight home meetings against RCD Mallorca.
- RCD Mallorca have five defeats in nine away La Liga games, failing to score in their last three losses away from home.
- The Merengues have scored four goals or more in three of their past four games at the Bernabeu.
- RCD Mallorca have lost three of their last four away matches.
Player to Watch
Jude Bellingham
At what point will Jude Bellingham’s stunning goalscoring form take a break? He has found the back of the net 13 times in 16 La Liga outings this term. In addition, the English international has four goals and two assists in his last six across all competitions, so the former Borussia Dortmund star will surely look to add to his overall tally here.
Prediction
Real Madrid 3-0 RCD Mallorca
Real Madrid are the clear favourites to beat Mallorca in La Liga on Wednesday, and they should be able to win without conceding. But Mallorca have proven to be a tough nut to crack lately and head into Wednesday’s contest riding on a commendable unbeaten run.
The hosts have been scoring goals for fun in front of their own fans and have netted at least four times in three of their last four at the Santiago Bernabeu, and exactly four twice. As such, The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Los Blancos.