Mallorca
November and December were not supposed to be like this for “Mallorca,” which faces a long and challenging battle for survival. Four consecutive matches in La Liga against opponents from the lower half of the table were a key opportunity for them to gather a significant number of points and earn a slight advantage over the relegation zone. However, three draws, including the inability to score against the league’s worst defense last weekend (0-0 away against “Almeria”), made them look back before the winter break. Head coach Javier Aguirre insists that the team “creates enough goal-scoring opportunities” and remains confident that their goal tally of three goals in nine La Liga games since early October will “explode.” Unavailable for the match are Lato, Muriki, Valiente, and Maskarell, who has a contusion.
Read also: Feyenoord vs Roma.
Osasuna
No one would have felt more relief from Osasuna’s 1-0 victory over “Rayo Vallecano” over the weekend than head coach Jagoba Arrasate, whose over five-year tenure was in jeopardy due to a six-game winless streak in La Liga. “We needed this!” – he declared after the first league victory since October 20. Their two games on either side of the Christmas break, followed by a home game against winless “Almeria,” are also fantastic opportunities to increase their buffer from the bottom three, which at the start of this round is six points. Out of the game today are Mohika and Garcia, who has a muscle injury.
Read also: Fiorentina vs Torino.