On Friday, September 27, 2024, Real Valladolid will host RCD Mallorca at the Estadio José Zorrilla in what promises to be a tightly contested match in La Liga's eighth game week. Here’s a detailed preview of the encounter, including team news, head-to-head statistics, and betting predictions.
Team Form and Recent Performances
Real Valladolid is currently struggling, having won only one game this season, which was their opening match. Since then, they have managed only two points from six matches, with scoreless draws against Leganés and Real Sociedad being their only positive results. Their latest defeat was a 1-2 loss to Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.
In contrast, Mallorca is in good form, having picked up 10 points from their last five games, which places them fifth in the league over that period. They recently beat Real Betis 2-1 at Benito Villamarín, with Valeri scoring the winner after coming off the bench. Mallorca has been particularly strong away from home, winning two of their three away matches against Leganés and Betis.
Head-to-Head Statistics
The head-to-head record between Valladolid and Mallorca is closely balanced, with each team having won 15 times in their matchups. However, when playing at José Zorrilla, Valladolid has a significant advantage, with 13 wins compared to Mallorca's four. The last time Mallorca won at José Zorrilla in La Liga was in the 2009/10 season with a 2-1 result.
Team News and Injuries
Valladolid will be without several key players due to injuries, including defenders Jenk Ozkajar, Javier Sánchez, and youngster Abdoulaye Juma Ba, as well as midfielder Anouar. Midfielder César de la Hoz is recovering and might be back in action soon.
Mallorca will also face some challenges with injuries, as they will be without Vedat Muriqi, who suffered a strain and will be sidelined for three to four weeks. Additionally, Siebe Van der Heyden, Pablo Maffeo, Javi Llabres, and Takuma Asano are also out due to injury concerns.
Predictions and Betting Tips
Given the current form and statistics, several predictions lean towards a cautious and defensive game. Scores24 predicts a final score of 0-1 in favor of Mallorca, highlighting that both teams are likely to play with little risk. This prediction is supported by the fact that Valladolid has had trouble scoring this season, averaging just 0.43 goals per game, and Mallorca's recent games have seen an average of 1.6 goals per match.
SportyTrader suggests that the match will be one of the most even of the weekend but favors Mallorca due to their good shape since the last season. However, they note that Valladolid is tough to beat at home, making the odds quite even.
MightyTips recommends a double chance bet on 1X, anticipating a fierce battle where a draw could be a satisfactory outcome for both teams. They highlight that Valladolid remains unbeaten at home in La Liga so far and has not conceded a single goal in their opening three home matches.
Statistical Insights
Valladolid's defensive and offensive struggles are evident, with the lowest stats in both attack and defense. They average 0.43 goals per game while letting in about 2.14 goals per game. In contrast, Mallorca has been stronger away from home, winning two of their three away matches and scoring at least one goal in four out of their last five confrontations against Valladolid.
Betting odds reflect the tight nature of the match, with Mallorca's moneyline at +165, Valladolid's at +198, and the draw at +185. The predicted score by some analysts is Mallorca 2, Real Valladolid 1, although the consensus is that the game will be low-scoring.
Conclusion
The match between Real Valladolid and RCD Mallorca promises to be a closely contested and defensive affair. Given the recent form and head-to-head statistics, Mallorca might have a slight edge, but Valladolid's home record and determination to turn their season around make this a match that could go either way. As betting predictions suggest, a low-scoring game with a possible draw or a narrow win for Mallorca seems the most likely outcome.
