Real Mallorca start the weekend on top of league 2. They’ve been helped by the fact that Espanyol have lost their last two, at home to Girona and away at Leganés last time out. Last weekend they were held to a home 0-0 draw against fourth place Sporting Gijón. In the midweek they went away to Cartagena and won 1-2 to put them top of the league by 1 point to Leganés. Interesting that the three teams that were relegated last season from La Liga are now the top three in La Liga 2. Playing budgets and squad sizes have a lot to do with it. Espanyol have the biggest budget at 45,342€, Leganés at 26,704€ and Mallorca at 19,049€.
The squad spending limit denotes the maximum amount that each club can spend during the course of the 2020/21 season following the winter transfer market, including spending on the first team in relation to players, the manager, assistant manager and fitness coach (registrable squad, as defined in Art. 38 of the Budget Preparation Rules) and spending on the reserves, the youth system and other areas (non-registrable squad, as defined in Art. 38 of the Budget Preparation Rules). So Mallorca are doing very well to be where are right now and long May it continue. This weekend they are at home to seventh placed Logroñés, who’ve won their last six games, so not an easy game. That’s followed next Thursday when they travel to fifth placed Almeria, who’ve won their last five. Almeria surprisingly have the second biggest budget in the league at 27,582€ and it will be a tough game. If Mallorca can get past both of these without losing, you’d have to say they are genuine promotion contenders.
Atlético Baleares unfortunately are struggling right now. After their first five games, they’ve won 1, drawn 2 and lost 2. They are in sixth place eight points behind the leaders Rayo Majadahonda and it has to be said the new coach Jordi Roger is under a bit of pressure already. Having invested heavily in the squad in the summer, this is not where the owners envisaged they’d be. A 0-1 home loss last weekend to Sanse with the visitors scoring in the 87th minute. This weekend they’re away at CDA Navalcarnero who lie in second place in the league
UD Poblense are struggling at the bottom of the league on 3 points. Struggling is probably a bit harsh as it was always going to be tough for them making this step up. Goals are hard to come with only 3 so far, yet they’ve only conceded 5 so they’re not getting gubbed in any of their games. A win would really boost the confidence right now, with Real Madrid B arriving on the island this Sunday.
Across the water UD Ibiza are dominating their league. Five wins from 5 games, scoring 11 goals and conceding just one. They are already 5 points clear at the top. I watched them destroy Valencia B 0-4 on IB3 TV last weekend. This weekend they are at home to Hercules of Alicante who lie behind them in second place.
Peña Deportiva are more than holding their own with 6 points in their opening 5 games. They currently lie in fourth and whilst they’ve only conceded one goal, they’ve only scored one too!
In Tercera Group A, top of the table Andratx lost their first game of the season to second placed Manacor. Meaning the gap between them is now 4 points and Manacor have a game in hand.
It’s a little tighter in Tercera Group B, with Platges de Calvia at the top by 3 Points from PE San Jordi. With no game for Platges this weekend, San Jordi have a chance to join them at the top.
In Division Honor the highest league in youth football, Penya Arrabal managed to get a 1-1 draw with Barcelona. I tried to go to the game but they were only accepting members or players family and had a capacity of 150. San Francisco lost a to and fro game 3-2 to CF Damm. Real Mallorca beat UD Cornelia 2-1. That leaves Penya in Fourth, Mallorca in sixth and San Fran in seventh.
No game for my eldest last week but he has a game today at 16.45 against Patronato which you can see live on CD San Francisco’s Facebook page.
Take care everyone.
Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday 07.30-11.00am 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
Dad Taxi Mallorca 