A great week for Real Mallorca. I said last week “If Mallorca can get past both of these without losing, you’d have to say they are genuine promotion contenders.” They actually exceeded my expectations beating Logroñés 4-0 and then Almeria away 0-1. Both teams had won their previous six matches and Mallorca scored five goals and conceded none.
In the Logroñés game they were helped by a handball sending off in just four minutes, which meant they dominated the rest of the game. Against Almeria in a tight affair, the winning goal was a “worldy” from Abdon Prats. An overhead kick that will be difficult to beat when the goal of the season awards are handed out.
Last years La Liga Smartbank winners Huesca won the league with 70 points. In their 42 games they won 21, drew 7 and lost 14. They scored 55 goals and conceded 42 goals. Right now in their 16 games so far, Mallorca already have 35 points, so they are halfway to that total of Huesca already. Their record so far is played 16, won 10, drawn 5 and lost 1. They’ve scored 20 goals and conceded just 3 goals.
It’s very tight at the top with Mallorca on 35 points, Espanyol on 33, Leganés 31. It’s still the three teams that were relegated last season that are the top three. They don’t play now until Monday evening against Castellón.
Atlético Baleares conceded a 93rd minute equaliser last weekend against CDA Navalcarnero. Having retaken the lead in the 84th minute from “The Tank”(Vinicius Tanque) you would hope that they could close out the game. But right now they’re struggling for form and it wasn’t possible. They’re now in fifth place, 10 points behind the leaders Rayo Majadahonda. The coach Jordi Roger said this week “we need the support of the fans and we will do our best to get 3 points”. He’s a coach under pressure having not won a game since the opening one of the season. This weekend they’re at home to Las Rozas, kicking off at 12 midday at the Estadio Balear. Let’s hope for better luck this weekend.
UD Poblense were 8 minutes from causing a shock against Real Madrid Castilla. However an equaliser scuppered their hopes of a first win of the season. However a draw is still a commendable result against Real Madrid’s second string of youngsters managed by their former legendary player Raul. This weekend they are away against CDA Navalcarnero, will that elusive first win come this weekend?
Much better news across the water on the White Isle of Ibiza. UD Ibiza maintained their 100% start beating Hercules by 1-0. In a tight affair it took then to the 93rd minute to break the deadlock. Head Coach Juan Carlos Carcedo said afterwards “The substitutions helped us to get to the last minutes of the match with plenty of options to find the decisive goal”. That’s 6 wins from 6 games, scoring 12 conceding just 1. This weekend they face Orihuela, who lie in second place 7 points behind. You’d have to say if they win that, they’re favourites to go to the next stage.
Orihuela is where Peña Deportiva lost 1-0 last weekend. They lie in 5th place on 6 points and as I mentioned last week, the goals scored column needs filling up. Just one so far and if they want to progress they need to find the net. They are at home this weekend to CD Alcoyano.
In Tercera, Andratx still lead the way in Group A after a 1-2 win in Ibiza against SD Portmany. Manacor are 4 points behind with a game in hand after beating Soller 2-0. No games this weekend because of the holiday.
In Group B, no game for Platges de Calvia last week meant they were joined at the top by PE Sant Jordi who beat Binnisalem 2-1. Like in Group A, there’s no games this weekend because of the holiday but next weekend it’s first against second as Platges de Calvia take on PE Sant Jordi.
In Division Honor, Penya Arrabal were the only team to get a point last weekend, in a 1-1 draw with At. Villacarlos. Real Mallorca lost 0-2 at home to Club Esportiu Europa and San Francisco lost 1-0 away at UD Cornelia. Penya lie in 4th, Mallorca in 6th and San Fran 7th. This weekend there’s difficult matches for all of our teams. Penya are at home to the leaders Espanyol, Mallorca are away to Girona and the pick of the games is San Fran versus Barcelona. It’s a shame that fans won’t be allowed in to see that game but you can see it on the CD San Francisco Facebook page or on Barcelona TV.
My eldest Son Jake’s team, San Francisco Cadete B came back from 0-1 to Patronato to win 2-1. They play them away this weekend in the return. Still no sign of a return to competitive matches for my youngest Jude in San Francisco Alevin A but there’s a possibility of a January start.
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 