Mallorca vs Barcelona

High-flying Barcelona make the journey south to encounter Mallorca in contrasting La Liga circumstances at the Estadio Mallorca Son Moix.

Despite opening the scoring on their weekend trip to Barcelona’s fellow Catalan rivals Girona, Mallorca found themselves on the wrong side of a 5-3 scoreline, relinquishing a two-game unbeaten La Liga run in the process (W1, D1). Javier Aguirre’s men have experienced a dreadful start to the new campaign, losing three of their opening six league games (W1, D2). ‘Los Piratas’ enter this round only a point clear of the relegation zone and still goalless at home after two La Liga matches this term (D1, L1). That doesn’t bode well for Mallorca’s bid to bounce back from a nightmare at Girona, especially considering they’ve lost six of their last seven top-flight H2Hs against Barcelona on home turf without scoring, including the most recent three on the trot.

However, Xavi Hernandez’s team won their last two visits to Mallorca via a narrow 1-0 scoreline, suggesting they can’t take anything for granted. But Barcelona will take this trip in high spirits after unfathomably overturning a two-goal deficit beyond the 80th minute to beat Celta Vigo 3-2 at home and maintain a stellar La Liga start. Since a scoreless draw at Getafe on the opening weekend, the ‘Blaugrana’ have racked up five consecutive league wins by an aggregate score of 16-6, not to mention a 5-0 demolition of Antwerp in the Champions League last week. Late drama could be on the cards, as Barcelona’s both league wins on the road this season have come thanks to goals scored beyond the 70-minute mark. Without a clean sheet in three of their last four La Liga outings, the visitors may need to pack a punch again to get three points.