Deportivo La Coruña vs Mallorca predictions, H2H and match preview for this Thursday’s Spanish Segunda Division play-off final 1st leg in Galicia. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups with both teams targeting a return to the top flight.
DATE/TIME – Thursday 20th June 2019, 21:00 (Spanish Time)
STADIUM – Riazor
COMPETITION – Spanish Segunda División Play-Offs
#DeporRCDMallorca #PlayOffLaLiga123
This Thursday sees the 1st Leg of the Play-Off Final which will decide who gets the final place in La Liga 2019/20. Depor are bidding to seal an immediate return to the top flight having been relegated last term. They are specialists in doing just that having bounced back immediately on the two other occasions in which they’ve been relegated from the Primera this century. Mallorca meanwhile haven’t been in the top flight since 2012/13 and are aiming to seal back-to-back promotions this week having come up from the Segunda B only last term.
Head coach Vicente Moreno has done a terrific job in guiding them from third tier football and all the problems that can bring to the brink of the top flight. They finished above Depor in the regular season but loosely speaking will still be seen as the underdogs in this tie, certainly in the 1st Leg in Galicia. They saw off Albacete in the Semi-Finals holding on for a 2-1 aggregate win despite losing the 2nd Leg.
Certainly Depor are the form team heading into this one. While Mallorca have only won 1 of their last 5 matches, Depor have won 4 of their last 5. They ultimately progressed with a 5-2 aggregate win in the Semi-Finals against Malaga. It was closer than the scoreline suggests though with Depor needing to twice come from behind to win the 1st Leg at home before surviving heavy pressure on the Costa del Sol only for a goalkeeping error to give them a three goal cushion and effectively book their place in this match.
The stakes are clearly enormous here and there is sure to be a cracking atmosphere at the Riazor with Depor desperate for a 1st Leg advantage to take to the Balearic Islands this weekend. There is also an interesting subplot to this game with Depor boss José Luis Martí, born and raised in Palma de Mallorca where he spent much of his playing career, now looking to deny his hometown club a long awaited return to the top flight.
Deportivo La Coruña vs Mallorca Predictions
Score Prediction: 1-0 Depor
The appointment of Marti in April has really turned Depor’s season around. They are on a real charge now having crept into the play-offs before seeing off Malaga. With home advantage, they look capable of keeping that momentum going, especially given Mallorca have failed to net in each of their last 3 away games, one of which was a 1-0 defeat on this ground.
Deportivo La Coruña vs Mallorca H2H
- Last 6 meetings: 4 Depor Wins, 1 Mallorca Win, 1 Draw.
- Depor have had the edge in terms of the recent meetings, winning 4 of the last 5.
- However prior to this season, the sides hadn’t met since 2014.
- The regular season games this term both produced 1-0 home wins.
One to Watch – Fede Cartabia
Pelo lado do Mallorca, os ex-Valencia Aridai Cabrera e Àlex López
Pelo lado do Depor, os ex-Valencia Fede Cartabia e Diego Caballo pic.twitter.com/7OG1napfyq
— ?Morcego Che ? (@MorcegoChe) June 16, 2019
The Depor winger offers a bit of spark and creativity that can be a real difference-maker at this level.
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Read more – Who gained automatic promotion from the Segunda this season?
Predicted Line Ups
Depor Team:
Gimenez – Simon, Somma, Duarte, Saul – Cartabia, Bergantinos, Exposito, Pedro – Valle, Carlos (4-4-2)
Mallorca Team:
Reina – Estupinan, Raillo, Valjent, Sastre – Pedraza – Lago, Dani, Sevilla, Suarez – Prats (4-1-4-1)
Preview via Daniel Garcia – Contact: daniel@laligaexpert.com
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