Real Sociedad – Mallorca : Preview & Prediction
Real Sociedad, one of the most in-form teams in the five major European leagues, is on its longest winning streak in nearly 200 matches under Imanol Alguacil. The Txuri-urdin team, winners last Sunday at Balaídos (Celta 1-2 RSO), have won their last seven official matches. With only one point less than at this stage of the previous two LaLiga Santander (LL) campaigns, Real are looking for a fifth consecutive league win that could propel them into the Champions League zone.
Alguacil is experienced enough in the job to be aware that the season is not defined in October. “We have to have humility and think that we haven’t done anything,” said the former player and coach from Orio after the important win in Balaídos.” Occasional stumbles like the one suffered against Getafe in September are a reminder that this Real is not infallible, but the San Sebastian squad looks unstoppable right now and come into their duel with RCD Mallorca having won nine of the last 11 matches in which they have been home favorites in all competitions (G9, E1, P1).
Although Mallorca is located in the mid-table zone, it maintains a margin of only two points over relegation, which Almeria leads with seven points after nine rounds. Javier Aguirre’s team urgently needs to correct its lack of success in front of goal. The “bermellones” have now gone three games without a win (E1, P2), despite being the team that has scored the most goals in each of those three matches.
Ahead of one of their toughest outings in a month of October without respite, it is worrying for Mallorca that they have lost all four matches against clubs that finished higher than eighth last season, with 1-0 defeats at home to Barcelona and Sevilla this month. The Balearic side, who have not scored more than one goal in any of their last six league games, will need to be very solid at the back and take their chances, something they failed to do against a Sevilla side that won at Son Moix on Saturday by hitting just once between the posts.
Players to watch: Brais Mendez has scored the goal that has taken Real Sociedad into halftime ahead in each of their last two LL home games. With Vedat Muriqi suspended, Kang-in Lee will be the only Mallorca player to have scored on the road this season.
Standout stat: only one of Mallorca’s nine games played in LL 2022-23 has had more than one goal in the first 45 minutes.
Real Sociedad – Mallorca : Betting Tips
Real Sociedad – Win Odds: 1.55
