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La Liga Preview: Valladolid - Mallorca
After losing their perfect home record last weekend, los Barralets travel to the Pucela in an attempt to restart their Champions League challenge...
| Bet: | Returns: | Malaga £17.27 | Draw £35.00 | Mallorca £48.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Malaga £17.30 | Draw £35.00 | Mallorca £50.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Malaga £17.50 | Draw £35.00 | Mallorca £45.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Malaga £17.30 | Draw £35.00 | Mallorca £50.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Malaga £17.70 | Draw £32.50 | Mallorca £43.50 |
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Feb 26, 2010 11:00:00 AM
By Robin Bairner
Kick Off: Sunday, February 28, 2010. 17:00 CET
Jose Zorrilla, Valladolid
Wins Required
Draw specialists Valladolid have played themselves into trouble because of their inability to win games on a regular basis and must host Mallorca on Sunday afternoon with the intention of picking up maximum points to ease their increasing relegation concerns.
Having recorded only nine defeats all season, Pucela have actually lost fewer Primera Division matches than eight other sides, yet they find themselves languishing in the relegation zone because of a feeble tally of wins. Only Xerez command fewer wins than the Castile and Leon unit, who have picked up just three batches of maximum points this season.
The last of these successes arrived against Sporting de Gijon in the round of matches immediately preceding Christmas, and this rather lamentable fact cost coach Jose Luis Mendilibar his job last month. Onesimo was swiftly appointed as the club’s new trainer, though he has enjoyed little more success in his three matches in charge, picking up a couple of draws after defeat to Valencia on his debut in the dugout.
Last weekend’s 1-1 tie against Osasuna was a match that Valladolid will rue not winning. A stunning strike from Haris Medunjanin seemed to have given them three points, but they leaked a goal late on, leaving them in the relegation zone with the heat slowly turning up. The draws need to be ditched and victories need to arrive.
Not So Perfect
The shock Champions League challengers of the Liga season, Mallorca, finally failed to defy critics last weekend, when they lost at home to Sevilla, and now face a difficult challenge in bouncing back against a team who have proven awkward to beat this season.
Gregorio Manzano’s side had gone into last weekend’s game at the ONO Estadi boasting an impressive ten wins from ten league encounters, though the wind was taken from their sails by the Rojiblancos, who claimed a 3-1 success. Prior to that encounter, Manzano had expressed his side’s need to bounce back following defeat in Tenerife the previous Monday.
Mallorca’s whole challenge has been based upon their record on the Balearic Island, where they have claimed 30 of their 37 points to date. Away from home their form has mirrored that of any relegation struggler, with only seven points accrued from a possible 36, recently losing to Xerez to boot.
Eventually their home record had to give, leaving additionally pressure on their performances on the road. Sunday’s journey to north west central Spain may well be pivotal as the downward spiral the club is currently caught up in cannot be allowed to continue.
FORM GUIDE
Valladolid
DREW 1-1 (a) Osasuna (Liga, February 21)
DREW 1-1 (h) Zaragoza (Liga, February 14)
LOST 2-0 (a) Valencia (Liga, February 6)
DREW 1-1 (h) Almeria (Liga, January 31)
LOST 3-0 (h) Barcelona (Liga, January 23)
Mallorca
LOST 3-1 (h) Sevilla (Liga, February 20)
LOST 1-0 (a) Tenerife (Liga, February 15)
WON 1-0 (h) Villarreal (Liga, February 7)
LOST 2-1 (a) Xerez (Liga, January 31)
WON 1-0 (a) Getafe (Copa del Rey, January 28)
TEAM NEWS
Valladolid
Diego Costa is still suffering from a knock he picked up against Zaragoza on Valentine’s Day, but he is hopeful of turning out for Pucela on Sunday.
Pedro Lopez, Pele and Nivaldo are all considered doubts, while Sisi, Jacobo Sanz, Henrique and Nestor Canobbio will all sit out once more.
Probable Starting XI: Villar; Lopez, Baraja, Arzo, Del Horno; Borja, Lazaro; Keko Medunjanin, Sesma; Manucho
Mallorca
Victor has announced that he is ready to return to action after approximately a month and a half out due to a shoulder problem. His presence in the squad is now dependant on the decision of Gregorio Manzano.
Enrique Corrales, Alhassane Keita, Ruben and Tuni all remain injury concerns.
Ivan Ramis and Jose Luis Marti are both banned, the former after being dismissed last weekend.
Probable Starting XI: Aouate; Josemi, Gonzalez, Nunes, Ayoze; Mario, China; Alvarez, Valero, Castro; Aduriz
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Valladolid
Having started from the bench last weekend, Bosnian midfielder Haris Medunjanin may have just done enough to wrestle his way into the Pucela’s starting XI after a very bright cameo last weekend. His goal was a strike fit to win any match, though sadly for Valladolid, it didn’t. The midfielder has scored four times this season, all coming when the player has trotted off the bench.
Mallorca
Goalkeeper Dudu Aouate had something of a nightmare against Sevilla last Sunday, directly responsible for two of the three goals his side conceded. He also showed good points to his game too, making a couple of terrific blocks, though these were overshadowed by his errors. If Mallorca are to end their poor away form, he must perform to a higher standard.
PREDICTION
Valladolid’s favourite scoreline is 1-1, and there seems to be a fair chance that this game could end up concluding in such a manner. Mallorca have been miserable away from home this season and may be particularly vulnerable after last weekend’s set-back. On the flip side, the loss against Sevilla may just have galvanised them.
Valladolid 1-0 Mallorca
Jose Zorrilla, Valladolid
Wins Required
Draw specialists Valladolid have played themselves into trouble because of their inability to win games on a regular basis and must host Mallorca on Sunday afternoon with the intention of picking up maximum points to ease their increasing relegation concerns.
Having recorded only nine defeats all season, Pucela have actually lost fewer Primera Division matches than eight other sides, yet they find themselves languishing in the relegation zone because of a feeble tally of wins. Only Xerez command fewer wins than the Castile and Leon unit, who have picked up just three batches of maximum points this season.
The last of these successes arrived against Sporting de Gijon in the round of matches immediately preceding Christmas, and this rather lamentable fact cost coach Jose Luis Mendilibar his job last month. Onesimo was swiftly appointed as the club’s new trainer, though he has enjoyed little more success in his three matches in charge, picking up a couple of draws after defeat to Valencia on his debut in the dugout.
Last weekend’s 1-1 tie against Osasuna was a match that Valladolid will rue not winning. A stunning strike from Haris Medunjanin seemed to have given them three points, but they leaked a goal late on, leaving them in the relegation zone with the heat slowly turning up. The draws need to be ditched and victories need to arrive.
Not So Perfect
The shock Champions League challengers of the Liga season, Mallorca, finally failed to defy critics last weekend, when they lost at home to Sevilla, and now face a difficult challenge in bouncing back against a team who have proven awkward to beat this season.
Gregorio Manzano’s side had gone into last weekend’s game at the ONO Estadi boasting an impressive ten wins from ten league encounters, though the wind was taken from their sails by the Rojiblancos, who claimed a 3-1 success. Prior to that encounter, Manzano had expressed his side’s need to bounce back following defeat in Tenerife the previous Monday.
Mallorca’s whole challenge has been based upon their record on the Balearic Island, where they have claimed 30 of their 37 points to date. Away from home their form has mirrored that of any relegation struggler, with only seven points accrued from a possible 36, recently losing to Xerez to boot.
Eventually their home record had to give, leaving additionally pressure on their performances on the road. Sunday’s journey to north west central Spain may well be pivotal as the downward spiral the club is currently caught up in cannot be allowed to continue.
FORM GUIDE
Valladolid
DREW 1-1 (a) Osasuna (Liga, February 21)
DREW 1-1 (h) Zaragoza (Liga, February 14)
LOST 2-0 (a) Valencia (Liga, February 6)
DREW 1-1 (h) Almeria (Liga, January 31)
LOST 3-0 (h) Barcelona (Liga, January 23)
Mallorca
LOST 3-1 (h) Sevilla (Liga, February 20)
LOST 1-0 (a) Tenerife (Liga, February 15)
WON 1-0 (h) Villarreal (Liga, February 7)
LOST 2-1 (a) Xerez (Liga, January 31)
WON 1-0 (a) Getafe (Copa del Rey, January 28)
TEAM NEWS
Valladolid
Diego Costa is still suffering from a knock he picked up against Zaragoza on Valentine’s Day, but he is hopeful of turning out for Pucela on Sunday.
Pedro Lopez, Pele and Nivaldo are all considered doubts, while Sisi, Jacobo Sanz, Henrique and Nestor Canobbio will all sit out once more.
Probable Starting XI: Villar; Lopez, Baraja, Arzo, Del Horno; Borja, Lazaro; Keko Medunjanin, Sesma; Manucho
Mallorca
Victor has announced that he is ready to return to action after approximately a month and a half out due to a shoulder problem. His presence in the squad is now dependant on the decision of Gregorio Manzano.
Enrique Corrales, Alhassane Keita, Ruben and Tuni all remain injury concerns.
Ivan Ramis and Jose Luis Marti are both banned, the former after being dismissed last weekend.
Probable Starting XI: Aouate; Josemi, Gonzalez, Nunes, Ayoze; Mario, China; Alvarez, Valero, Castro; Aduriz
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Valladolid
Having started from the bench last weekend, Bosnian midfielder Haris Medunjanin may have just done enough to wrestle his way into the Pucela’s starting XI after a very bright cameo last weekend. His goal was a strike fit to win any match, though sadly for Valladolid, it didn’t. The midfielder has scored four times this season, all coming when the player has trotted off the bench.
Mallorca
Goalkeeper Dudu Aouate had something of a nightmare against Sevilla last Sunday, directly responsible for two of the three goals his side conceded. He also showed good points to his game too, making a couple of terrific blocks, though these were overshadowed by his errors. If Mallorca are to end their poor away form, he must perform to a higher standard.
PREDICTION
Valladolid’s favourite scoreline is 1-1, and there seems to be a fair chance that this game could end up concluding in such a manner. Mallorca have been miserable away from home this season and may be particularly vulnerable after last weekend’s set-back. On the flip side, the loss against Sevilla may just have galvanised them.
Valladolid 1-0 Mallorca
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