San Sebastián, Spain – Real Sociedad go face off against Mallorca this Saturday at the Reale Arena for a critical La Liga clash. With the stakes high, La Real currently sits in 8th place with 41 points, while Mallorca follows closely in 9th with 40 points.
Last weekend, Real Sociedad secured a crucial victory against Las Palmas, marking their second consecutive win after their earlier success against Real Valladolid. This puts them in contention for European qualification, seven points behind sixth-placed Real Betis.
“We have the momentum, and we need to keep the pressure on the teams above us,” said Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil. They have their sights set on their next match against Villarreal the following week, making this weekend’s encounter even more vital.
On the other hand, Mallorca faced a disappointing defeat against Celta Vigo in their last match. They are looking to bounce back, having had a challenging season but maintaining a respectable record with 11 wins, 7 draws, and 12 losses so far.
“We need to focus and bring our A-game to get back on track,” Mallorca’s coach, Jagoba Arrasate, remarked as the team aims for a top-half finish after narrowly avoiding relegation last season.
Historically, Real Sociedad holds the upper hand over Mallorca. In their last 68 encounters, Sociedad has won 31 times compared to Mallorca’s 23 victories. At the Reale Arena, they’ve claimed 25 wins in 34 home matches against Mallorca, who have only triumphed five times.
The potential absence of key players due to injury might affect both teams. Real Sociedad will miss several core players, while Mallorca’s star striker, Vedat Muriqi, could also be sidelined due to injury.
With both teams aiming for important points, anticipation builds for what promises to be an exhilarating match. Fans are hopeful for an exciting clash, but expectations on the scoreboard lean towards a tight contest, as both teams have struggled with offensive consistency this season.
Overall, the pressure is on Real Sociedad to continue their winning streak and keep their European aspirations alive, while Mallorca fights to secure their place in the top tier.
