15th-placed RCD Mallorca are all set to host league leaders Real Madrid in search of all three points as they look to stay clear of the drop zone.
After failing to win the Copa del Rey last time out, RCD Mallorca will look to bounce back but a tough challenge awaits them in Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid, who are on course to win yet another La Liga title.
Mallorca are currently 15th in the league with 31 points in their 30 outings. They have a six-point buffer over 18th-placed Cadiz and will look to ensure they do not drop too many points with just eight games remaining in the season.
They had the opportunity to win their second Copa del Rey title when they squared up against Athletic Bilbao in the final. Unfortunately, they ended up on the losing side. But, the season is not over yet as they still need to secure their place in the Spanish top flight.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid are top of La Liga with 75 points in their 30 outings. They have an eight-point lead over second-placed Barcelona and winning here will ensure they stay well clear and in control of the title race with a handful of games remaining.
The Merengues are heading into this fixture on the back of a 3-3 draw against Manchester City in the 1st leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at home. While the focus will be on the second leg away from home, Real Madrid are still expected to push hard for all three points here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
RCD Mallorca
Toni Lato picked up an injury in the Copa del Rey final, and he is out until the end of the month. Meanwhile, Dani Rodriguez and Copete have fitness concerns and are unlikely to feature in this fixture. The home team are expected to go ahead with the 3-5-2 formation, with Predrag Rajkovic making a return in between the sticks.
The back three will be made up of Matija Nastasic, Antonio Raíllo, and Martin Valjent. They will look to keep a star-studded Real Madrid attack quiet and will have the support of Giovanni Gonzalez and Jaume Costa in doing so.
The duo will start as the wing-backs looking to contribute in defence as well as attack. In the centre of the park, Samu Costa will start alongside Antonio Sanchez and Sergi Darder. The trio will look to ensure the visitors do not end up dictating the proceedings. Meanwhile, in attack, they will have Vedat Muriqi start alongside Cyle Larin.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Rajkovic; Valjent, Raillo, Nastasic; Gonzalez, Darder, Samu Costa, Sanchez, Jaume Costa; Muriqi, Larin
Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois and David Alaba remain sidelined. Los Blancos did not pick up any fresh injury concerns in their recent clash against Manchester City. While everyone is available for selection, Carlo Ancelotti is expected to make wholesale changes to the XI in order to ensure he has everyone fit for the 2nd leg in Manchester.
Real Madrid will line up in a 4-4-2 formation against Mallorca, with Andriy Lunin in goal. Lucas Vazquez should be the right-back here, with Fran Garcia featuring on the opposite flank. In the heart of the defence, Eder Militao should get his first start since returning from injury.
Ancelotti will look to test him as he plans to start the Brazilian in the second leg against Manchester City next week. Meanwhile, Nacho should be Eder Militao’s partner at the heart of the defence.
Aurelien Tchouameni, who is suspended for the return leg, will feature in the centre of the park alongside Dani Ceballos and Luka Modric. Jude Bellingham will continue as the attacking midfielder while in attack, Brahim Diaz should start alongside Vinicius Junior.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Lunin; Vazquez, Militao, Nacho, Fran Garcia; Ceballos, Tchouameni, Modric; Bellingham; Brahim, Vinicius Junior
Key Stats
- Last time when RCD Mallorca hosted Real Madrid, they managed to script an incredible 1-0 win.
- The reverse fixture back in January ended 1-0 in favour of the team in white.
- Real Madrid have the best away record in the league with 34 points in their 15 league games.
- Mallorca have only lost three out of their 15 home games this term.
- Los Blancos are on a three-match winning run in the league and will look to make it four in a row.
Player to Watch
Brahim Diaz
Despite not being a regular starter for Real Madrid this season, Diaz has been a key part of the first team and has delivered every time Carlo Ancelotti has asked him to step up. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder has nine goals and five assists in just over 1,600 minutes of first-team football, and he will look to add to it when he takes the field against Mallorca.
Prediction
RCD Mallorca 1-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid might not go into this fixture with their best XI. Despite that, they will still have enough quality on the pitch to get the desired result. Mallorca are expected to put in an incredible shift here as they are heading into this one on the back of a major setback in the Copa del Rey final. But, they still might fall short against Los Blancos. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for the visitors.