Celta Vigo will be looking to win their consecutive game when they visit Mallorca in the La Liga. The visitors come into this game fresh from a 4-2 Copa del Rey victory over Amorebieta. Mallorca advanced in the competition after most recently defeating Burgos 3-0.
Preview (Mallorca vs. Celta Vigo)
Mallorca struggled in the first few months of the season. It seems as though things have turned around, as Javier Aguirre’s team is currently enjoying a winning streak. The Pirates have not lost to a team other than Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid since the beginning of November. In their previous eight games across all competitions, they have only been defeated once. It was 1-0 at Bernabeu against La Liga leaders Real Madrid on January 3. After defeating Burgos 3-0 in the Copa del Rey on Sunday, Aguirre’s team will be coming into this game with the momentum of having advanced to the round of 16, where Tenerife awaits.
Mallorca is currently in 14th place in the table with 18 points. They are three points ahead of the relegation zone, after playing 19 league games this season. Their record is three wins, nine draws, and seven losses. Despite having the fourth-worst attacking record in the division, the Pirates have only scored 17 goals in La Liga this season. It is the same as fifth-place Atletico Madrid and less than second-place Girona (24). They have only conceded 23 goals. Celta has won three of their past four games across all competitions. It includes their first two games of the year.
On January 3, Rafael Benitez’s team defeated Real Betis 2-1 in the league. Four days later, they defeated Amorebieta 4-2 on the road to advance to the Copa del Rey round of sixteen. The Sky Blues have only dropped one of their last eight games in all competitions, and they share Mallorca’s experience of trying to turn around a challenging season opener. However, they are only three points behind 13th-place Villarreal and will now be looking up the division rather than down.
Team News
Due to injuries, Mallorca will be without the services of Martin Valjent and Omar Mascarell for this match. Vedat Muriqi hasn’t played since the beginning of November due to a calf problem, is still a serious doubt. Due to a one-game suspension, the hosts will also be without central defender Matija Nastasic. He received a milestone booking in the team’s most recent league game against Real Madrid. The team that began the Copa del Rey match last time out will be changed by head coach Aguirre; among the players expected to return are Kyle Larin, Samu Costa, Antonio Sanchez, and Pablo Maffeo.
As for Celta, Jonathan Bamba is with Ivory Coast getting ready for the opening of the Africa Cup of Nations, while Carlos Dominguez, Franco Cervi, Mihailo Ristic, Carl Starfelt, and Joseph Aidoo are sidelined due to injuries. Iago Aspas and Jorgen Strand Larsen are expected to start as the front two in the league, meaning that Anastasios Douvikas, who scored twice last weekend in the Copa del Rey against Amorebieta, would probably start on the bench once more.
Mallorca 1-1 Celta Vigo
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