A Good Window For Mallorca

The transfer window closed last Monday with Real Mallorca adding three new signings. 

Alvaro Giménez a centre forward joined on loan from Cadiz. The 29-year-old progressed from the Mallorca academy to the first team in a two-year spell at the club in 2011, before going onto represent Elche CF, AD Alcorcón, UD Almería, Birmingham City and his parent club. Giménez was also the Segunda División’s top goalscorer two seasons ago having found the back of the net 20 times at UD Almería.

Victor Mollejo a winger joined on loan from Atlético Madrid. The 20 year old ended his loan spell at Getafe CF early and has previous Segunda División experience at Deportivo de la Coruña where he made 36 appearances and scored six times. He is also a youth international for his native Spain and recently won the Under-20s European Championships. 

Koke Vegas a goalkeeper joined on loan from Levante. The 25 year old joins to add back up to Manolo Reina and Miquel Parera. 

The most interesting of the three is Giménez, if he can recapture the goal scoring form of two years ago in the same division he could fire Mallorca to promotion.

Last weekend after defeating Girona, Mallorca watched to see what their promotion rivals could do. It was looking pretty routine at half time for second placed Espanyol, cruising to a 2-0 lead. But an amazing second half comeback from Rayo Vallecano saw them run out 2-3 winners. Almeria hit two late goals to defeat lowly Castellón and join Espanyol in second place. So Mallorca finished the Weekend three points clear at the top. Friday night they went away to 17th placed Albacete a team you would have thought they could beat. However what their position didn’t show was that they hadn’t lost since December 21st, having won four and drawn one. They were in fact the team with the best form in January. 

Mallorca included all three transfer window signings in their squad but not in the starting eleven. They were helped by a sending off for Albacete in the first half but they were struggling to break them down. A triple substitution in the 55th minute sparked them into life, resulting in Ndiaye scoring for the third match in a row. They looked like they had thrown it away in the 88th minute when Albacete were awarded a penalty but with luck on their side it was missed. The coach Luis Garcia Plaza said, “It’s a vital victory – very important – but today we weren’t as sharp as other games. We struggled with that last pass, that last situation.” He added “We’re a team that goes out to win in any field and in any situation, the team’s ambition is the word that defines it the most – even on days when we are not so good. What we’re missing from this great season is our fans in the stadium.” I second that and it will be hugely disappointing if we’re not allowed in before the end of the season. At that point they were six points clear at the top with Espanyol and Almeria still to play. Almeria drew 1-1 last night with Fuenlabrada to move into second place. Espanyol don’t play until Monday against Lugo. That’s three victories in a row now for Mallorca and their blip seems to be over. The next two games could go a long way to decide whether they’ll gain automatic promotion or not. Espanyol next weekend and Almeria the week after. 

Atlético Baleares started against Atlético Madrid on the back of two successive wins and looking back in form. However an early goal from Madrid put them on the back foot and they didn’t really recover from it losing 1-0. They are at home to mid table Real Madrid Castilla managed by their former legend Raul and need to get a win. 

UD Poblense have worryingly gone to the bottom of the league with a 0-1 reverse against Las Rozas. They’ve only won one game so far and have the highest amount of draws with six. Perhaps the stat which defines the reason they are bottom is that they’ve conceded the most goals. This weekend they are away at Getafe B.

Here’s something I’ve not written this season, UD Ibiza have lost a league game. On the one hand it was surprisingly at home but on the other it was against the team in second place Alcoyano, who defeated Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey. The coach Juan Carlos Carcedo said “The team was on a sustained run of hugely impressive results and we  know just how difficult it was to achieve that. Now, we will regroup and go again with the same focus and ambition as always”. Today they play mid table Atzeneta UE away. 

Peña Deportiva disappointingly drew 0-0 at bottom of the table Atlético Levante UD. It was a chance for them to add to their points tally but like the rest of the season they couldn’t score. That’s just three goals in 12 games and that might well be their downfall. They’re at home to third placed Hercules today. 

In Tercera division group A, After closing the gap to Andratx both Manacor and Ibiza Pitiusas let it slip again. Manacor lost at home to Constancia and Ibiza could only draw with Soller. Andratx have won their last two to move nine points clear and although the chasing teams have games in hand they can’t keep throwing away opportunities. 

In Tercera division group B, Platges de Calvia are still dominating. They are five points clear of Real Mallorca B with two games in hand. 

In Division Honor top of the table Espanyol finally lost their first game losing 2-0 at Girona. Penya Arrabal thrashed Atlético Villacarlos 7-1, San Francisco got a hard fought 1-0 win over UD Cornella and Real Mallorca play CF Damm today. 

Youth football are still training and let’s see what the authorities do with the restrictions next week. 

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