Mallorca vs Barça: Preview
Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
La Liga is back, and Barça start the stretch run to the title with a tricky road trip and a welcome return
RCD Mallorca (18th, 25pts) vs FC Barcelona (1st, 58pts)*
*Points and positions at the time of writing on Friday
Competition/Round: 2019-20 La Liga, Matchday 28
Barcelona Outs & Doubts: Clément Lenglet, Ousmane Dembélé (out)
Mallorca Outs & Doubts: Leonardo Koutris, Lumor Agbenyenu (out)
Date/Time: Saturday, June 13, 2020, 10pm CET (Barcelona), 9pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 4pm ET, 1pm PT (USA), 1.30am IST (India, Sunday)
Venue: Son Moix, Palmas de Mallorca, Spain
Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande
How to watch on TV: beIN SPORTS (USA & Canada), LaLigaTV (UK), SuperSport 7 (Nigeria), Movistar LaLiga (Spain), Not Available (India), others
How to stream: fuboTV (USA), beIN SPORTS CONNECT (USA & Canada), Premier Player (UK), Facebook Live (India), Movistar+ (Spain), others
WELCOME BACK, BARCELONA FOOTBALL!!!! It’s been almost three months since the greatest club in the world had a match to play, but the wait is finally over: the Blaugrana travel to Son Moix for a big La Liga game against Mallorca, and boy is this a fascinating matchup.
First of all, let’s remember where we are in the season: there are 11 matches left to play for these two teams, Barça in first place two points ahead of Real Madrid and Mallorca in 18th fighting for relegation. Both teams desperately need a win, but Barça especially must get this one.
Why? Well, we are in the stretch run of the season, and once we reach the final 10 or 11 games things get REALLY serious in the title race. Madrid’s loss to Real Betis put Barça back on top of the table, and they can’t waste Cristian Tello’s game-winner three months ago. It’s time to show strength and go for it all. There’s no Champions League to worry about until the La Liga season ends, so there are no excuses.
Luis Suárez is back from injury, Lionel Messi looks as hungry as ever and Quique Setién is fighting for his job. There will be no fans in the stadium so Barça have no excuses to not play well away from home in this new climate. They have to play like they’ve missed the game, and they have to give fans stuck at home a reason to smile.
Let’s do this, Barça. Let’s freaking do this.
POSSIBLE LINEUPS
Barcelona (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti, Alba; Arthur, Busquets, De Jong; Messi, Suárez, Griezmann
Mallorca (4-4-2): Reina; Pozo, Valjent, Raíllo, Gámez; Rodríguez, Salva S., Baba, Kubo; Budimir, Hernández
PREDICTION
They’ve been off for three months, it’s impossible to predict how well they’ll play, the shape they’re in and whether the empty stadium will help with the away form. But the time off has definitely not made me a pessimist, so let’s go with 4-0 Barça. Back with a bang.
Source: barcablaugranes.com
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