Having got some great feedback when I’ve concentrated on Mallorca and tourism I’ve decided that I would do a midweek blog covering all the football here on the island and keep my weekend blog to talk about the island and more particularly tourism.
La Liga has announced their return on Thursday June 11th with the Seville derby between Sevilla and Real Betis. Real Mallorca will restart their league campaign with the small matter of defending Champions Barcelona at the Son Moix on Saturday June 13th at 10pm. Like all games across Europe they will begin behind closed doors. Denying us here on the island the chance to see Messi, Suarez and Griezmann live. The boys and i went to the away game in December where Mallorca got gubbed 5-2. It was a Messi masterclass, he scored a hat-trick and made everything look so easy. It was a pleasure to be there even though we were on the end of a good hiding. I suppose if there was ever a good time to play them then it would be after a 3 month gap of lockdown. We might just catch them off guard a little like we did against Real Madrid at home and a point would be like a win to be honest.
La Liga has announced their return on Thursday June 11th with the Seville derby between Sevilla and Real Betis. Real Mallorca will restart their league campaign with the small matter of defending Champions Barcelona at the Son Moix on Saturday June 13th at 10pm. Like all games across Europe they will begin behind closed doors. Denying us here on the island the chance to see Messi, Suarez and Griezmann live. The boys and i went to the away game in December where Mallorca got gubbed 5-2. It was a Messi masterclass, he scored a hat-trick and made everything look so easy. It was a pleasure to be there even though we were on the end of a good hiding. I suppose if there was ever a good time to play them then it would be after a 3 month gap of lockdown. We might just catch them off guard a little like we did against Real Madrid at home and a point would be like a win to be honest.
I wonder if there will be anyone who will try to get near the ground as there are areas of the car park you can actually see part of the pitch. I’m sure the police won’t allow it but let’s see.
We play at 10pm Saturday evening and less than 72 hours later we’re in Villareal for a 7.30pm kick-off. Organisers have only released scheduling details for the first two rounds of fixtures, although La Liga chief Javier Tebas confirmed there will be matches behind closed doors every day of the week until the season is completed on the 19th of July. The heat is going to be a problem for all teams, Weekday matches will kick off at 19.30 and 22.00, while weekend games will begin at 17.00, 19.30 and 22.00, with an extra slot at 13.00 if it is not too hot! I think that’s a given.
I read this week that there is a plan to bring back crowds to La Liga, not in the 11 games left of this season but at the beginning of next season. The plan I hear is 30% capacity at the beginning of next season (starting 12th Sept), 50% in November and 100% in January. How are they going to choose who gets to go and who doesn’t? My idea is give first refusal to the season ticket holders who have been with the club from the barren years in Segunda B 3 years ago. Not the glory hunters who started this season. 30% is around 6-7,000 and the boys and me would qualify.
Mallorca have offered season ticket holders a 25% refund for the 2019/20 campaign or you can opt for alternative including a 15% discount on merchandise at official club stores, name engravement on the ‘Fan Wall’, future matchday experiences such as VIP access and ‘Meet & Greet’ events or facility rentals for birthdays or matches.
With no fans allowed at grounds it’s Interesting that the President of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, Miguel Ángel Ramirez believes that their Segunda division game against Girona on June 13thcould be the first game in Europe attended by fans since the pandemic began. He believes that because of the low infection rate on the island could make it safe for fans to watch the game. There’s been 2,326 cases across the Canary Islands and 151 deaths. If that happens then surely there’d be an argument here as across the Balearic Islands there’s been 2,191 cases and 226 deaths.
If it can’t happen in La Liga then it would be something that Atlético Baleares might look into. Having been made Champions of Segunda B Group 1, Baleares are waiting to see who they will play in the play-offs. They boast 3 players from the UK, the Shashoua brothers have just returned to Mallorca from their quarantine in the Uk. Armando is on loan from Tottenham and Sam is on loan from Tenerife. Hopefully Jordan Holsgrove the Scottish U-21 International on loan from Reading will be back from injury. Whoever they get it’s a huge game for the club and it would be great for the island if they could get promotion. They’ve been in this position 3 times previously in 2012, 2017 and last season agonisingly losing to Mirandes on away goals.
I told you that last week my two were going back to CD San Francisco in Palma and we have already begun their pre-season training together. I’ll keep you posted on their progress and all local football here too.
Take care everyone, I’m back at the Weekend.
Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday07.30-11.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online at www.radioonemallorca.com on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!
Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com
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