Match Preview: Saturday 15/04/2007 19:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 30
FC BARCELONA - R.C.D. MALLORCA

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Capacity: 99.000
Referee: Ramirez Dominguez


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Zambrotta (Belletti), Thuram, Puyol, Gio (Sylvinho) - Marquez (Edmilson), Xavi, Deco - Iniesta (Giuly), Eto´o, Messi - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


R.C.D. Mallorca (4-5-1): Moya - Hector, Ballesteros, Nunes, Fernando Navarro - Gutierrez, Pereyra, Basinas, Ibagaza, Arango - Victor (Maxi Lopez) - Manager: Gregorio Manzano


Match Preview:

La Liga leaders FC Barcelona (1st/56 points) meet RCD Mallorca (13th, 36 points) at Camp Nou tonight (19:00 local time). This weekend he is back and just in time to face his former club, Real Mallorca, as the Balearic outfit visit on Sunday evening. Real Mallorca have enjoyed a considerable successful campaign as they have nothing to do with the relegation battle since a while and are a comfortable 9 points clear of the drop zone. Cameroon forward Samuel Eto´o will meet his former club Mallorca and so will Maxi Lopez meet his club FC Barcelona on the other side (on loan from Barca to Mallorca). Eto´o played 5 seasons for Mallorca and is still their best La Liga goalscorer in history (54 goals/133 matches). He moved to Barca in 2004 and is even more successful in Camp Nou.


Eto´s return, after missing the Real Zaragoza defeat, will give a boost to the team and the supporters but the fact that Ronaldinho will miss due to a tonsillitis, is a blow. Still, Barca who have a squad full of world class players will be able to compensate the loss., even though the "Gaucho" is able to decide a match on his own, but so can Eto´o or Messi.


Interesting to see, how the team will react to Ronnie´s miss. Also Barca coach Rijkaard has several decision to take, who to field and how to play. Zambrotta will probably start on the right, with Thuram (or may be Marquez) and Puyol in the centre of the defence. Gio will probably get the nod instead of Sylvinho on the left full back position. Also Belletti could start on the right (Oleguer is being rested) and Zambrotta could move to the left side, but this combination is probably unlikely. The toughest decision is the midfield. Will Rijkaard again play with a very offensive midfield, consisting of Iniesta, Xavi and Deco or will he field Marquez (may be Edmilson) on the central, defensive midfield position, which would give Rijkaard the option to move Iniesta on the right wing again? If Iniesta plays in midfield, Giuly will occupy the right wing as attacker. Eto´o is set on the centre forward position and Leo Messi will take Ronaldinho´s place on the left wing. some decisions to make before the game as Ronaldinho is out of action and Oleguer has been rested.


RCD Mallorca coach Manzano is able to select from a full squad. Barca´s on loan player Maxi Lopez will probably start on the bench and also 18 year old talent Oscar Trejo made the trip to Barcelona. Trejo impressed in his debut when he scored against Getafe.


My Prediction:
Last weekend´s defeat at Real Zaragoza was less harmful that expected because Sevilla could not win their match against Racing Santander and Real Madrid lost yesterday night to the same Santander outfit (Thank you, Racing!). With Sevilla playing in Valencia tonight, one challenger will definetely drop points, hopefully a draw or a Valencia win. Barca has got a unique chance to get a bit of margin between the nearest rivals.


Eto´o is back but Ronnie out. Even though, the "Gaucho" is able to decide a match on his own, but so can Eto´o or Messi. Surely, the magicians absence is a blow, but Barca has a squad full of world class players and will be able to replace him accordingly.


I do not even want to waste 1 second on the thought that Barca is could draw or lose this match. Mallorca has won in Sevilla, but I really believe that this was an one-off. The Blaugrana have this fantastic chance to put 4 points between Sevilla, if Sevilla lose to Valencia and 5 between Real. This would be a great blow and probably the "Bye-Bye" to Real´s current Championship dream. No way, the Merengues will come near the title, having to play Valencia and Sevilla in within the next 3 weeks.


Mallorca will probably try to minimise the damage and Barca has to be patient. But at the end, there can be only one winner:


FC Barcelona - Real Mallorca 2:0



Visca el Barca!