Prediction: Mallorca vs Real Madrid

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 11/25

Bookmaker: Unibet

Fresh off their UEFA Super Cup triumph, Real Madrid will kick off their 2024/25 La Liga season with a trip to face Mallorca at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix on Sunday night. The reigning Spanish champions will be keen to assert their dominance again after finishing 10 points ahead of arch-rivals Barcelona last season.

Mallorca, who ended the previous campaign in 15th place and seven points clear of relegation, will face a stern test against Los Blancos as they look to improve on last year’s struggles.

Mallorca

Mallorca are gearing up for their fourth consecutive season in La Liga, marking their longest stretch at this level since 2013. Despite this achievement, the Pirates endured a challenging 2023/24 campaign, finishing 15th, just seven points clear of relegation. With a fresh start under new manager Jagoba Arrasate, who took the reins after leaving Osasuna, the club hopes to achieve a more comfortable position this season.

The summer transfer window has seen Mallorca add Johan Mojica from Villarreal, alongside free transfers for Takuma Asano and Mateu Morey. However, they lost key goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic, who departed for the Saudi Pro League in a big-money move.

Mallorca’s record against Real Madrid in recent seasons has been rather unsuccessful, with just one victory since October 2019—a 1-0 win at home in February 2023. Last season, Madrid completed the league double over them, winning both games 1-0. Off the back of a UEFA Super Cup win, Real Madrid enter this match as overwhelming favorites to secure three points on Sunday.

Team News

Mallorca head into their opening La Liga match with a mostly healthy squad, though they will be without Javi Llabres due to a muscular issue. New manager Jagoba Arrasate is likely to opt for a three-man defense, and summer signing Johan Mojica—who played under Arrasate on loan at Osasuna last season—could make his debut.

In attack, Asano might partner with Vedat Muriqi, who has been a key figure for Mallorca with 27 goals in 80 league appearances.

Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappe made a memorable Real Madrid debut by scoring in their 2-0 UEFA Super Cup triumph over Atalanta on Wednesday. The France international netted the second goal as Carlo Ancelotti’s side secured the silverware, showcasing their depth and talent as they prepare for the 2024/25 season.

Jude Bellingham impressed in a deeper midfield role, while new signings like Mbappe and Brazilian wonderkid Endrick have only strengthened a squad already regarded as favorites in both La Liga and the Champions League this season.

Despite losing pre-season games to AC Milan and Barcelona, Real Madrid concluded their preparations with a victory over Chelsea. They were sluggish at first against Atalanta but came alive in the second half, underscoring the potential of this revitalized team.

Last season, Ancelotti’s men dominated La Liga, collecting 95 points and suffering only one defeat, while boasting the league’s best attack (87 goals) and defence (26 goals conceded). They now aim to start their 2024/25 campaign strongly with matches against Mallorca, Real Valladolid, and Las Palmas in August.

Team News

David Alaba remains sidelined as he continues to recover from the ACL injury he sustained late last year, though the Austrian defender is expected to return before 2024 ends. Meanwhile, Eduardo Camavinga will miss the next six weeks after suffering a knee injury during training ahead of the UEFA Super Cup.

Fortunately, Real Madrid emerged from their 2-0 victory over Atalanta without any fresh injury concerns. As a result, Carlo Ancelotti is likely to field the same starting XI for their La Liga opener. This means Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappé, and Rodrygo should lead the attack, while Jude Bellingham will continue operating from a deeper midfield role.

Eder Militao has fully recovered from his knee injury and is set to partner Antonio Rudiger in central defence.

Conclusion

Mallorca, under the guidance of Jagoba Arrasate, certainly have the potential to make this a challenging match for Real Madrid. Arrasate’s tactical acumen could trouble Los Blancos, particularly on their home turf.

However, with Real Madrid’s immense strength across all areas of the pitch and their impressive form heading into the new La Liga season, the reigning champions are expected to secure a victory in their opening fixture.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 11/25

Bookmaker: Unibet