🔈 Will the reigning national champions succeed at the “Iberostar”? In the opening round of Spain's La Liga, one of the most intriguing matchups is the clash between Mallorca and Barcelona. The uncertainty lies in what to expect from Hansi Flick's second season at the helm of the Blaugrana, and the suspense revolves around whether he and his squad can make progress throughout the entire season. Let's take a look at the odds: a Mallorca win stands at 6.1, while a Barcelona victory is at 1.5.

Head-to-Head

📊 In the last 10 head-to-head encounters, Mallorca have managed to take points off Barcelona just once, drawing 2-2 in the 2023/24 campaign. The last victory for the "Islanders" (2-1) dates back to the distant 2008/09 season. Let's take a look at the average scoring rate for each team over these 10 games: Mallorca average 0.6 goals per game, while Barcelona score 2.5.

Mallorca Team Overview

🔴 Jagoba Arrasate is entering his second season at the helm of Mallorca. Last season, the "Vermilions" were occasionally in the running for European competition spots, but a string of late-season setbacks saw the "Islanders" finish in 10th place. The club's standout acquisition from the city of the same name is Pablo Torre, signed from Barcelona. This addition should ease the head coach's concerns about the quality in the midfield.

⚫️ During their preseason, the "Islanders" played six matches, suffering just one defeat against Lyon (0-4). It's unlikely that Jagoba Arrasate will spring surprises in the upcoming season—his tactical style, which relies on counterattacks and a deep defensive line, remains his preferred approach.

Barcelona Team Overview

🔵 The Blaugrana had an impressive preseason, securing emphatic victories against several Asian clubs and Italian side Como (5-0). It seems Hansi Flick remains unfazed by the lack of fresh talent in his squad. During the current transfer window, the Catalan club has added goalkeeper Joan García (from Espanyol), teenager Roony Bardghji (from Copenhagen), and the out-of-form Marcus Rashford (from Manchester United). These signings don't quite align with Barça's ambitions for the season—competing for titles across all competitions.

🔴 Barcelona's financial situation is well known. The club is working to generate revenue through various sponsorship deals, supports holding select La Liga matches in the USA, and is open to offloading several surplus players. The Blaugrana have made disappointingly little from transfers, selling only Pablo Torre (€5 million) and Pau Delgado (€12 million).

Latest news

Mallorca

🏷 During the offseason, Mallorca parted ways with a couple of significant players: Robert Navarro and Jose Copete. While Navarro's loan deal expired, Copete was sold to Valencia for €3.6 million. Among the recent arrivals, notable signings include Lucas Bergstrom from Chelsea, Ilies Salhi from Nice, and Mateo Joseph from Leeds.

📰 The biggest news among Mallorca fans, however, is the contract extension of Vedat Muriqi. The Kosovan forward has now committed to the club until 2029. In the "Islanders" jersey, Muriqi has already netted 35 goals and provided 11 assists in 118 appearances.

❌ Among the unavailable players, only Samu Costa stands out, having picked up a minor injury in the recent friendly match against Hamburg (2-0).

Barcelona

🖨 Until the last moment, there were no guarantees that Barcelona could register goalkeeper Joan Garcia for the season. However, it was recently confirmed that La Liga's medical committee has acknowledged that Ter Stegen's injury meets the criteria for long-term treatment. This loophole allowed the Blaugrana to include the young Spanish keeper in the squad for the match against Mallorca. Meanwhile, another new signing, Marcus Rashford, remains unregistered for the season.

🎤 Ahead of the new season, Barcelona president Joan Laporta gave an extensive interview. Here's a key quote from the Spanish executive: “This season, we are aiming for success, success on the pitch. We will fight, and I am convinced that with all our strength, with all our capabilities, we can compete for victory in every competition we participate in. We hope Barcelona fans will enjoy Hansi Flick's team and experience the joy we always wish for them. When I returned, I committed to bringing joy back to Barcelona's supporters.”

❌ The main personnel setback for Barcelona is Robert Lewandowski's muscle injury, as he continues his recovery. Additionally, they cannot count on contributions from Marc Bernal and Marc-André ter Stegen.

🟨 Prediction for Yellow Cards

🟨 Prediction for Yellow Cards

Last season, both teams showed discipline on the field. Mallorca averaged 2.1 yellow cards per match, while Barcelona averaged just 1.7. Their head-to-head history also indicates a low level of aggression, with 2.1 against 1.5 in favor of the "Islanders." Considering these trends, we suggest a total of under 4.5 yellow cards.

⚽ Prediction for Goals

Barcelona's average goal tally last season was 3.7 goals per game. In their encounters with Mallorca, the "Blaugrana" also performed comfortably, scoring about 2.8 goals per match. Furthermore, in their last 20 head-to-head encounters, the "Cinnabar Reds" have failed to keep a clean sheet. Our pick is Barcelona's individual total of over 1.5 goals.

🚩 Prediction for Corners

Barcelona consistently ranks among the league leaders in creating wing threats. Based on last season's stats, the "Blaugrana" earned no fewer than 7 corners per match. In their head-to-heads with Mallorca, this figure stands at 6.6. I doubt that the visitors' evident dominance in possession won't translate into a significant number of corner kicks. The editorial choice is Barcelona's individual total of over 6 corners.

Even though Barcelona haven't significantly strengthened over the summer, there's no doubt that Hansi Flick's squad remains one of the top contenders for the championship title. Historically, Mallorca have been a favorable opponent for the Blaugrana, which only boosts the visitors' chances of success. Our editorial team predicts a final score of 0-3, with the key bet being Barcelona to win with a -1 handicap.