Sevilla – Mallorca : Preview & Prediction
The fifth defeat suffered by Jorge Sampaoli in his five matches as coach against Barcelona (cumulative score: 13-1!) halted Sevilla FC’s climb up the table, which remains very close to the relegation zone. After the 3-0 defeat at the Camp Nou, the team returns to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, where they won all three of their LaLiga Santander (LL) home games in January. The blanquirrojos are regaining solidity at their stadium, but face this Saturday’s match with no margin for error.
In addition to their winning streak at the RSP and an unbeaten home record against teams below the top eight going into this matchday (G3, E2), Sevilla may have the psychological advantage of having achieved the first win of the second spell under Sampaoli precisely on their visit to RCD Mallorca (RCDM 0-1 SFC, Matchday 9).
Overthrowing Mallorca again will be by no means an easy task for Sevilla. The Balearic side visit Nervión full of confidence after having become the third club to defeat Real Madrid in LL 2022-23 (1-0), and the “bermellones” would jump right into the fight for the European places with a win at Sevilla’s home ground. “We had that dose of fortune that we had lacked in other matches,” said coach Javier Aguirre after the narrow win over the reigning LL champions, also highlighting Predrag Rajković’s penalty save in the second half.
After seven matchdays alternating home wins with away defeats – none of the seven games had goals from either team – the trend points to the fact that Mallorca could go scoreless and pointless in Nervión. “We can’t get out of position, LaLiga doesn’t end on matchday 20,” said Aguirre after the win over Madrid. The Mexican coach is aware that the permanence is not yet assured for a Mallorca that chains three league defeats away from home, two of them against Cadiz and Getafe.
Players to watch: Full-back Marcos Acuna has played a key role in Sevilla’s recent success at home, finding the net in the first half in two of the last three LL matches played at the RSP. Vedat Muriqi, Mallorca’s top scorer in the current campaign with eight goals, has scored in each of the Balearic side’s three away wins.
Standout series: The losing side has not scored in the opening 45 minutes in any of Mallorca’s last 13 LL matches without a draw.
Sevilla – Mallorca : Betting Tips
Sevilla – Win Odds: 2.25
