Match Preview: Sunday 19/11/2006 19:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 11
R.C.D. MALLORCA - FC BARCELONA

ONO Estadi, Palma de Mallorca – Capacity: 25.000
Referee: Rafael Ramirez Dominguez


Probable Line-Up:

R.C.D. Mallorca (4-3-1-2): Prats - Navarro, Nunes, Ballesteros, Fernando Navarro - Jankovic, Pereyra, Ibagaza - Arango - Máxi, Víctor Casadesús - Manager: Gregorio Manzano


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Zambrotta, Marquez (Thuram), Puyol, Gio (Sylvinho) - Motta (Edmilson), Iniesta (Xavi), Deco - Giuly, Gudjohnsen, Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Match Preview:
FC Barcelona will play against the team with the fewest goals scored (only 6), but also the fewest goals received (only 6) in La Liga. Without doubt, the encounter will demonstrate a fight between two very different football styles. Real Mallorca is currently at 11th position in the Primera Liga table on 13 points with 3 wins, 4 draws and 3 defeats. Mallorca are 10 positions lower and have 10 points less than leader FC Barcelona but the encounter might be more tricky than it looks on paper. Definetely, Mallorca´s is playing a result orientated football and their recent results are based on a very strong and disciplined defensive tactics, proved by finishing 50% of there matches so far without conceiding one single goal. In contrast, Barca has already scored 23 goals this season, which means 2.3 goals per match.


Like so many other teams in La Liga, also Mallorca has got Barca players in their team, Fernando Navarro and argentine Maxi Lopez.

Left back Fernando Navarro came through Barca´s youth ranks and Barca B and played several matches for Barca´s first team in 2001-02.
Argentinian Maxi Lopez is still a Barca player and currently on loan at the ONO Estadi.

Both players played every match for Mallorca and Maxi scored one goal this season.


Coach Gregorio Manzano kept Mallorca in La Liga last season. Manzano arrived after the dismissal or Agentinian coach Hector Cuper and brought the team from the bottom of the table finally to position 13 at the end of the season. Manzano has built a solid team this season which does not include famous names but work hard together as a team.
Mallorca manager Gregorio Manzano has no injury worries at the moment and will continue with three tough-tackling midfielders and Arango supporting Victor Casadesus and Maxi Lopez up front in his 4-3-1-2 system that he applies generally for home games this season.


For Barca, the situation is a bit different. The list of available players changes with every day. for now, it is sure that Saviola, Eto'o and Messi are the three players who are out with injuries for a foreseable time, but Barca coach Rijkaard received extremely positive news as well when he heard that Edmilson, Iniesta and Xavi were declared fit by Barca´s medical departement. additionally, Rijkaard midfield options increased by the news that Thiago Motta´s red card appeal was successful and that the Italo/Brazilian is available to play in tonights match.


There are some doubts about the starting eleven. In defence, Rijkaard might give thuram a run out (instead of Rafa Marquez) and it is not clear if Gio will start ahead of Sylvinho. In Midfield, Motta could start for Edmilson and Iniesta for Xavi as Barca boss Rijkaard might rest some players for the important Champions League away match against Levski Sofia next week. But there should be no doubts about the attacking line up: Giuly, Gudjohnsen and Ronaldinho, with Santi Ezquerro on the bench.


My Prediction:

There has been speculation all over the place about Barca having to sign new players in the January transfer window or may be even use their own home grown talents youngsters Jeffren (18), Giovanni (17) or Bojan (16) to cover for the injured Eto'o, Messi and Saviola. I personally believe winter signings make not much sense and Barca should look at the player they currently have:
Eidur Gudjohnsen, the summer signing of Chelsea, believes his best was yet to come, Santi Ezquerro is eager to prove why Barca signed him one summer ago from Athletic Bilbao and Ludovic Giuly has all the confidence in the current sqad and suggested that Barca does not need anyone to help out.


The last thing Barca can afford to lose their current momentum and the place at the top of the table. The next weeks are so important, with all challengers playing each other and also needing to win their two important CL-matches against Sofia and Bremen.


FC Sevilla´s and Real Madrid´s victories yesterday made it even more necessary to return to barcelona with 3 points to stay confortably at the top of La Liga.


It is going to be a tough match and probably not to exciting. Mallorca will be defending but players like Giuly, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta and Ezquerro (if coming on) have way too much to prove to let Mallorca win.


Barcelona will win and it will produce another boost of confidence ahead of the next away match, against Levski Sofia midweek. gudjohnsen will score a second half winner!


R.C.D. Mallorca - FC Barcelona 0-1



Visca el Barca!