Mallorca vs Albacete Predictions, H2H and Match Preview

Mallorca vs Albacete predictions, H2H and match preview for this Thursday’s Spanish Segunda Division play-off clash. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups with both teams aiming to take a step in the direction of the top flight after long absences.

DATE/TIME – Thursday 13th June 2019, 21:00 (Spanish Time)

STADIUM – Iberostar Stadium

COMPETITION – Spanish Segunda División Play-Offs

#RCDMallorcaAlbacete #PlayOffLaLiga123

This is the second of the play-off games in the Segunda Division with Mallorca, who finished 5th in the regular season taking on Albacete who finished 4th. Neither side take great form into the play-offs though having stuttered towards the end of the campaign and ultimately missed out on automatic promotion by some distance.

Albacete were in 2nd place as recently as match-day 35. However a series of late season defeats against promotion rivals put pay to their challenge. Within their last four matches, they have been beaten at home by both Granada and Malaga ensuring they would ultimately finish below the Andalusian duo. That doesn’t exactly bode well heading into the play-offs but they might be fairly happy to be away first here given their road form is decent with 4 wins from 6 away heading into this.

Mallorca meanwhile have had a steadier campaign and have ended every match-day since round 5 somewhere between 4th and 8th. They secured a top six finish in the end with a bit of breathing space but did only manage to win one of their final five games. That will be a bit of a concern for boss Vicente Moreno but there will clearly be more intensity to this one and that may just bring something extra out of his team.

Both sides are hungry for a return to the Primera. Mallorca haven’t featured in the top flight since their 16 year stay amongst the elite of Spanish football ended in 2013. They’ve dropped down to the Segunda B since then so if they can negotiate these play-offs, they will feel as though their troubles are over and they’d have plenty to look forward to next term. Albacete have never been top flight regulars but they were in the Primera for five seasons in the 1990’s and a further two in the 2000’s so they will be equally hungry for another stint with the big boys.

Mallorca vs Albacete Predictions

Score Prediction: 2-0 Mallorca

Albacete will have the sense that they’ve thrown away a real chance to secure automatic promotion and Mallorca look the side more capable of winning this tie. They are very strong at home with 6 wins from their last 7 at the Iberostar and they are yet to taste defeat there in 2019, winning 11 of 13 in front of their own fans this calendar year. That’s a very strong sequence of results and with a big crowd behind them, they look capable of taking control of this one heading into this weekend’s 2nd Leg.

Mallorca vs Albacete H2H

• Last 6 meetings: 4 Albacete Wins, 2 Mallorca Wins.
• Albacete did the double over Mallorca in the regular season but the islanders were reduced to 10 men in both games.
• Mallorca had won their previous 3 home games against Albacete before this season’s defeat.
• The most recent clash was a 2-0 Albacete home win in February.

One to Watch – Junior

? ¡Último entrenamiento antes del partido!

? Ensayo general en Son Moix#JuntsSomMillors #SomelMallorca pic.twitter.com/FDCgi2d3rI

— RCD Mallorca (@RCD_Mallorca) June 12, 2019

The Ivorian has been one of the top performers in the Segunda Division this term chipping in with 11 goals and 8 assists for Mallorca.

Follow La Liga Expert on Twitter for the latest updates and live tweets from the games.

Read more – Who gained automatic promotion from the Segunda this season?

Predicted Line Ups

Mallorca Team:

Reina – Raillo, Valjent, Sastre, Estupiñán – Salva Sevilla, Pedraza Dani Rodríguez, Budimir, Lago – Cabrera (4-2–3-1)

Albacete Team:

Churripi – Gorosito, Arroyo, Caro, Herrera – Susaeta, Peña, Valderrama, Malsa, Barri – Ángel (4-5-1)

Preview via Daniel Garcia – Contact: daniel@laligaexpert.com