Primera La Liga:
Handicap
Real Mallorca vs Getafe
0 : 1/4
Over / Under 2 1/2
Mallorca will be be safe if they win on Sunday, whilst Getafe could drop into the bottom three if they lose.
Michel will take charge of his first match as Getafe coach on Sunday as the Madrid side travel to the island to take on a resurgent Real Mallorca team. With just one point separating the visitors from the relegation zone they will be desperate to pick up something here whilst Mallorca are all but safe after reaching the fabled 42 point mark…
Marvelous Mallorca
It has to be said that at one stage of this season it looked as though Mallorca were prime candidates for the drop, as they struggled to pick up points and lingered in the bottom three along with Espanyol and Recreativo Huelva. However, somehow, they have managed to turn things around, and not only do they find themselves not battling relegation anymore, but they sit comfortably in the top half of the table, knowing that a win this weekend would make them mathematically safe.
How this turnaround has happened is not quite clear but looking back at the fixture list, the win against Valencia seems to have been where things finally started to click for the islanders. That 3-1 victory was followed up in the next five matches with one loss, one draw, and three wins, all of them against direct rivals at the bottom of the table like Sporting and Numancia.
Recently they have demonstrated their talents with wins over Atletico Madrid and Valladolid in the league, whilst they gave Barcelona a scare in the Copa del Rey before they eventually succumbed to the Catalans. Even though the coach has admitted that they are all but assured of safety now, they will not want to let their four-match unbeaten run come to an end this weekend, especially not against a team competing down the bottom themselves.
New Coach, New Start?
Whilst Mallorca have managed to turn things around this season, Getafe have failed to do so, and defeat to Villarreal last weekend was the final straw for the president as Victor Munoz was given the sack. Rather than be saddened by the situation, it is thought that many of the players were relieved to see him go, with the general feeling being that Munoz did not understand Getafe, and vice versa.
Whatever the reasons for his departure, there is no doubt that Getafe have a lot of work to do in the final five games and that new coach Michel has a tough task on his hands. Not only does he have to pick up points against the likes of Mallorca, Osasuna and Deportivo La Coruna but more importantly he has to get players like Esteban Granero playing to their full potential, which they haven’t been for much of this season.
Worryingly, his first game in charge this weekend is far from an easy one and even though Getafe thrashed Mallorca in the Spanish capital last year, this is likely to be a very different story. Michel will no doubt highlight the importance of simply taking something from this match and then preparing for the game against Osasuna next week which will be vital, whether they win or lose on the island.
FORM GUIDE
Real Mallorca
Apr 26 Recreativo 2-4 Real Mallorca (La Liga)
Apr 23 Real Mallorca 2-0 Valladolid (La Liga)
Apr 18 Malaga 1-1 Real Mallorca (La Liga)
Apr 12 Real Mallorca 2-0 Almeria (La Liga)
Apr 4 Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Real Mallorca (La Liga)
Getafe
Apr 26 Getafe 1-2 Villarreal (La Liga)
Apr 21 Real Madrid 3-2 Getafe (La Liga)
Apr 18 Getafe 0-1 Barcelona (La Liga)
Apr 12 Sevilla 0-1 Getafe (La Liga)
Apr 5 Valencia 4-1 Getafe (La Liga)
Advertisement - article continues below »
TEAM NEWS
Real Mallorca
Miguel Angel Moya has been included in the Mallorca squad as first-choice goalkeeper Duda Aoute is injured for this encounter.
Ayoze and Chori Castro are both suspended, whilst Enrique Corrales is injured so will not take part in the match.
Probable Line-Up (4-4-1-1): Moya – Josemi, Scaloni, Navarro, Nunez, - Valera, Marti, Santana, Arango – Jurado - Aduriz
Getafe
New coach Michel has decided to include both Mario and Adrian in his squad but they seem unlikely to start on the island.
Esteban Granero should begin the game in midfield, whilst Fabio Celestini, Mario Alvarez and Rafael Lopez all miss out, the first two through injury and Rafael thanks to suspension.
Probable Line-Up (4-4-2): Stojkovic – Cortes, Diaz, Belenguer, Licht – Granero, Casquero, Polanski, Gavilan – Manu, Uche
PLAYER TO WATCH
Real Mallorca
Jose Jurado has admitted this week that he does not know whether he will be staying at Mallorca next season or returning back to his parent club Atletico Madrid; and if he does leave the island there is no doubt that he will be a loss to this team. So far this season he has been one of the best players for Mallorca and his eight goals only tell half the story as he has set up plenty of goals with his pinpoint passing and crossing.
Getafe
Before his departure, Victor Munoz declared that he wanted to see more from Esteban Granero on the pitch this year and there is no doubt that the midfielder has not been playing to his best for much of the season. Michel will be looking to inspire a new lease of life into him and if he can up his game in the middle of the pitch then Getafe will be a much better side all round.
PREDICTION
Mallorca have nearly assured their survival this season whilst Getafe are still desperately fighting for theirs, and this should be a close-fought encounter on the island on Sunday. The home side will not be wanting to slip into a bad run of form at this stage of the year and even though Michel might inspire his team to improve, it will be tough for them to win this match.
Real Mallorca 1-1 Getafe
Mallorca will be be safe if they win on Sunday, whilst Getafe could drop into the bottom three if they lose.
Michel will take charge of his first match as Getafe coach on Sunday as the Madrid side travel to the island to take on a resurgent Real Mallorca team. With just one point separating the visitors from the relegation zone they will be desperate to pick up something here whilst Mallorca are all but safe after reaching the fabled 42 point mark…
Marvelous Mallorca
It has to be said that at one stage of this season it looked as though Mallorca were prime candidates for the drop, as they struggled to pick up points and lingered in the bottom three along with Espanyol and Recreativo Huelva. However, somehow, they have managed to turn things around, and not only do they find themselves not battling relegation anymore, but they sit comfortably in the top half of the table, knowing that a win this weekend would make them mathematically safe.
How this turnaround has happened is not quite clear but looking back at the fixture list, the win against Valencia seems to have been where things finally started to click for the islanders. That 3-1 victory was followed up in the next five matches with one loss, one draw, and three wins, all of them against direct rivals at the bottom of the table like Sporting and Numancia.
Recently they have demonstrated their talents with wins over Atletico Madrid and Valladolid in the league, whilst they gave Barcelona a scare in the Copa del Rey before they eventually succumbed to the Catalans. Even though the coach has admitted that they are all but assured of safety now, they will not want to let their four-match unbeaten run come to an end this weekend, especially not against a team competing down the bottom themselves.
New Coach, New Start?
Whilst Mallorca have managed to turn things around this season, Getafe have failed to do so, and defeat to Villarreal last weekend was the final straw for the president as Victor Munoz was given the sack. Rather than be saddened by the situation, it is thought that many of the players were relieved to see him go, with the general feeling being that Munoz did not understand Getafe, and vice versa.
Whatever the reasons for his departure, there is no doubt that Getafe have a lot of work to do in the final five games and that new coach Michel has a tough task on his hands. Not only does he have to pick up points against the likes of Mallorca, Osasuna and Deportivo La Coruna but more importantly he has to get players like Esteban Granero playing to their full potential, which they haven’t been for much of this season.
Worryingly, his first game in charge this weekend is far from an easy one and even though Getafe thrashed Mallorca in the Spanish capital last year, this is likely to be a very different story. Michel will no doubt highlight the importance of simply taking something from this match and then preparing for the game against Osasuna next week which will be vital, whether they win or lose on the island.
FORM GUIDE
Real Mallorca
Apr 26 Recreativo 2-4 Real Mallorca (La Liga)
Apr 23 Real Mallorca 2-0 Valladolid (La Liga)
Apr 18 Malaga 1-1 Real Mallorca (La Liga)
Apr 12 Real Mallorca 2-0 Almeria (La Liga)
Apr 4 Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Real Mallorca (La Liga)
Getafe
Apr 26 Getafe 1-2 Villarreal (La Liga)
Apr 21 Real Madrid 3-2 Getafe (La Liga)
Apr 18 Getafe 0-1 Barcelona (La Liga)
Apr 12 Sevilla 0-1 Getafe (La Liga)
Apr 5 Valencia 4-1 Getafe (La Liga)
Advertisement - article continues below »
TEAM NEWS
Real Mallorca
Miguel Angel Moya has been included in the Mallorca squad as first-choice goalkeeper Duda Aoute is injured for this encounter.
Ayoze and Chori Castro are both suspended, whilst Enrique Corrales is injured so will not take part in the match.
Probable Line-Up (4-4-1-1): Moya – Josemi, Scaloni, Navarro, Nunez, - Valera, Marti, Santana, Arango – Jurado - Aduriz
Getafe
New coach Michel has decided to include both Mario and Adrian in his squad but they seem unlikely to start on the island.
Esteban Granero should begin the game in midfield, whilst Fabio Celestini, Mario Alvarez and Rafael Lopez all miss out, the first two through injury and Rafael thanks to suspension.
Probable Line-Up (4-4-2): Stojkovic – Cortes, Diaz, Belenguer, Licht – Granero, Casquero, Polanski, Gavilan – Manu, Uche
PLAYER TO WATCH
Real Mallorca
Jose Jurado has admitted this week that he does not know whether he will be staying at Mallorca next season or returning back to his parent club Atletico Madrid; and if he does leave the island there is no doubt that he will be a loss to this team. So far this season he has been one of the best players for Mallorca and his eight goals only tell half the story as he has set up plenty of goals with his pinpoint passing and crossing.
Getafe
Before his departure, Victor Munoz declared that he wanted to see more from Esteban Granero on the pitch this year and there is no doubt that the midfielder has not been playing to his best for much of the season. Michel will be looking to inspire a new lease of life into him and if he can up his game in the middle of the pitch then Getafe will be a much better side all round.
PREDICTION
Mallorca have nearly assured their survival this season whilst Getafe are still desperately fighting for theirs, and this should be a close-fought encounter on the island on Sunday. The home side will not be wanting to slip into a bad run of form at this stage of the year and even though Michel might inspire his team to improve, it will be tough for them to win this match.
Real Mallorca 1-1 Getafe
( Goal )
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment