Preview: Osasuna vs. Mallorca

Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s La Liga clash between Osasuna and Mallorca, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Mallorca will be bidding to make it back-to-back victories in Spain’s top flight when they head to Estadio El Sadar on Tuesday evening to face Osasuna.

The visitors are currently 15th in the La Liga table, nine points clear of the relegation zone, while Osasuna occupy 13th, boasting 40 points from their 35 league games this season.

Match preview

Osasuna picked up a point in a 2-2 draw with Athletic Bilbao on Saturday; Jagoba Arrasate’s side actually led 2-0 at San Mames, but the home side answered back, with their second goal coming in the sixth minute of additional time at the end of the 90.

Los Rojillos are without a victory in La Liga since the end of March, but they did manage to end their four-game losing run on Saturday with a welcome point against Ernesto Valverde’s side.

Arrasate’s team are currently 13th in the table, boasting 40 points from their 35 matches courtesy of a record of 11 wins, seven draws and 17 defeats.

Osasuna will again operate in Spain’s top flight next season, but there will be a new manager in the dug-out, with Arrasate preparing to stand down as head coach.

Los Rojillos have actually managed to win just one of their last four La Liga matches against Mallorca, and they suffered a 3-2 defeat in he reverse meeting between the two sides earlier this season.

Mallorca, meanwhile, relegated Granada from Spain’s top flight on Saturday courtesy of their 1-0 home success over Las Palmas, with Giovanni Gonzalez netting the only goal of the contest.

Javier Aguirre’s side are now 15th in the table, boasting 35 points from their 35 matches, which has left them nine points ahead of 18th-placed Cadiz, who are in action against Getafe on Sunday afternoon.

Mallorca are set for another campaign in the top flight, but they have performed below expectations this season, especially as last term brought a ninth-placed finish.

The Pirates have found it difficult on their travels during the 2023-24 campaign, only picking up 10 points from their 17 matches, recording just one victory in the process.

Osasuna have struggled for consistency in front of their own fans this season, though, only claiming 21 points from 17 matches, and the hosts have also found it tough to show their best form for much of the season.

Osasuna La Liga form:

Mallorca La Liga form:

Mallorca form (all competitions):

Team News

Osasuna will welcome Jon Moncayola back into their squad on Tuesday evening, with the midfielder missing out against Athletic on Saturday due to a suspension.

However, Unai Garcia, Moi Gomez, David Garcia, Ante Budimir and Kike Barja remain unavailable for selection.

Osasuna did not pick up any fresh fitness problems against Athletic, but there could be a couple of changes due to the relatively quick turnaround, with Aimar Oroz and Juan Cruz both in line for starts.

Moncayola is also expected to return in the middle of the home side’s midfield on Tuesday night.

As for Mallorca, head coach Aguirre is also expected to make a couple of changes to his starting side for this match, with the alterations potentially coming in midfield.

Indeed, Manu Morlanes and Sergi Darder are both in line for starts on Tuesday, with Antonio Sanchez and Dani Rodriguez potentially dropping down to the bench.

Cyle Larin should retain his spot alongside Vedat Muriqi in the final third of the field, with Abdon Prats on the bench.

Mallorca had no injury problems for their clash with Las Palmas last time out, and Aguirre is also expected to have a full squad to choose from against Osasuna providing that there are no late setbacks.

Osasuna possible starting lineup:
Herrera; Areso, Catena, Herrando, Cruz; Ruben Garcia, Torro, Munoz, Moncayola, Oroz; Raul Garcia

Mallorca possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Gonzalez, Valjent, Raillo, Copete, J Costa; Morlanes, S Costa, Darder; Muriqi, Larin

We say: Osasuna 1-1 Mallorca

Eight of the last 12 La Liga matches between these two sides have finished level, and we are expecting the points to be shared once again on Tuesday night. Mallorca have only won once on the road this season, but they have drawn seven times, and we are predicting another stalemate here.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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