Barcelona’s La Liga title defense continues as they host Mallorca at the iconic Spotify Camp Nou. The Catalan giants currently sit at the top of the La Liga standings and have successfully progressed to the Champions League round of 16, as well as securing a spot in the Copa del Rey semifinals. This remarkable form has seen Barcelona win 16 out of their last 17 matches across all competitions, including recent victories against Elche and Albacete, placing them in an excellent position to maintain their lead in the title race.
On the other hand, Mallorca comes into this match in a desperate fight to avoid relegation. Their recent victory over Sevilla has provided a buffer, leaving them three points clear of the drop zone, but they have struggled historically against Barcelona, failing to defeat them in any of their last 19 encounters. Barcelona recognizes the importance of maintaining their form, especially with Real Madrid just one point behind in the standings.
The match is set to kick off on Saturday, February 7, at 10:15 a.m. ET at Spotify Camp Nou, and promises to be an exciting fixture for fans.
In terms of team news, Barcelona will miss key players Pedri and Raphinha due to injuries. Marcus Rashford is expected to fill in for Raphinha, while Dani Olmo is projected to take over Pedri’s role alongside Frenkie de Jong. The lineup will likely remain similar to the one that boasted a staggering 6.44 xG last time out against Elche, with Eric García returning to bolster the defense alongside Pau Cubarsí.
Barcelona’s predicted lineup is expected to see a strong 4-2-3-1 formation featuring García, Koundé, Cubarsí, and Balde in defense, with De Jong and Olmo managing midfield duties and Rashford, Yamal, and López supporting Ferran Torres in attack.
For Mallorca, they arrive in decent shape with only Takuma Asano ruled out through injury. The return of defender Marash Kambulla is a positive sign, although his inclusion from the start may come too soon. Mallorca’s other defenders will need to rise to the challenge against Barcelona’s potent attack, which is spearheaded by Vedat Muriqi, who has emerged as a significant goal threat this season.
While Mallorca has shown improvement lately, they have not won an away match in La Liga since mid-October, giving Barcelona a distinct home advantage. A close encounter is anticipated, but Barcelona’s attacking prowess may shine through, potentially leading to a decisive victory.
The predicted score for the match is Barcelona 3, Mallorca 1, as the home side looks to further solidify their lead at the top of La Liga while Mallorca aims to climb away from the relegation battle.