Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 2/1
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Alaves will be aiming to halt a troubling five-match losing streak in La Liga as they welcome Mallorca to Estadio Mendizorrotza on Friday. Sitting just above the relegation zone in 16th with only 10 points from 11 games, Alaves are in need of a turnaround to climb the standings.
Mallorca, meanwhile, have enjoyed a strong start to the season and are positioned in seventh place with 18 points from their opening 11 matches. The visitors will look to build on their early momentum and take advantage of Alaves’s recent struggles to solidify their place in the top half of the table.
Alaves
Alaves enter their clash with Mallorca on the back of a narrow 1-0 Copa del Rey win over fourth-tier Compostela, where an early own goal from Kike Vidal was enough to advance. Despite securing the result, it wasn’t the most inspiring performance from Luis Garcia’s men, who now turn their focus to snapping a five-game La Liga losing streak.
The Basque club’s last league win came over a month ago on September 20, and they’ve since suffered defeats to Real Madrid, Getafe, Barcelona, Real Valladolid, and Rayo Vallecano. This slump leaves Alaves hovering just one point above the relegation zone in 16th place, and with 19 goals conceded, they share the third-worst defensive record in La Liga.
In recent encounters, Alaves have struggled against Mallorca, with their last league win against them dating back to 2019. Both league meetings last season ended in draws, including a 1-1 result in this fixture, giving Alaves a familiar but challenging task on Friday night.
Team News
Alaves will be missing Hugo Novoa once more due to injury for Friday’s clash, though they welcome back Aleksandar Sedlar, who made the bench in their recent Copa del Rey win. Luis Garcia is expected to make several changes from that lineup, restoring key players like Toni Martinez, Carlos Martin, Jon Guridi, and Manu Sanchez to the starting XI.
Antonio Sivera is set to return as the first-choice goalkeeper, while Kike Garcia might again find himself among the substitutes, as Martinez is likely to start up front.
Mallorca
Mallorca are in a strong position heading into Friday’s matchup with Alaves, sitting seventh in La Liga after securing 18 points from 11 games. Jagoba Arrasate’s side are only three points off third-placed Villarreal, largely due to their impressive defensive record—conceding only eight goals, the second-best in the league behind Atletico Madrid.
After finishing 15th last season, the Pirates look primed for a top-10 push, with European qualification not out of reach if they can improve their consistency in front of goal. While they suffered a setback with a 2-1 loss to Espanyol earlier this month, Mallorca have since rebounded with a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano and a 0-0 draw against Athletic Bilbao.
Arrasate’s team has proven resilient on the road, winning three of their last four away games in La Liga. Given Alaves’ recent struggles, Mallorca will approach the match as favorites, aiming to build on their solid form and capitalize on the hosts’ defensive vulnerabilities.
Team News
Mallorca will be without Ivan Cuellar and Takuma Asano due to injuries, while Samu Costa is suspended following his red card against Athletic. Cyle Larin is also a significant doubt after being substituted early in that match, which may open the door for Abdon Prats to feature in the attack.
Omar Mascarell is likely to step in for the suspended Costa in midfield, while Robert Navarro and Sergi Darder are expected to keep their roles on the flanks.
Conclusion
Given their strong defensive record and Alaves’ recent struggles, Mallorca should have the edge in this clash, even if it’s a low-scoring affair. While they have not been prolific in front of goal, Mallorca’s solid backline has been one of the league’s most effective, which may be enough to secure a narrow victory. If they can clinch three points, they would momentarily move up to fourth place, marking a promising step toward a potential European spot.
Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 2/1
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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