A big upheaval at Atlético Baleares this week as their Coach Jordi Roger left the club by mutual consent. If I’m honest I’m surprised it hasn’t happened before as results just haven’t been good enough. However their 3-2 defeat at Las Rozas last weekend was the final straw. Baleares were 0-2 to the good and let their opponents come back and steal the three points. That means that they won’t make it into the promotion play-offs and if they’re not careful they may end up in the relegation play-offs. Midweek, they decided to take on Xavi Calm who was Assistant Coach to Jordi Roger. Birmingham City fans may remember him as he worked for them in the 2019/20 season. Today is the Balearic Derby, Poblense v Atlético Baleares, the last game just before Christmas saw Poblense beat Baleares 2-3. Last weekend they could only draw 1-1 with Navalcarnero meaning a win for them today is essential.
Real Mallorca struggled to overcome lowly Cartagena last weekend before eventually winning 2-1. It looked like a draw until VAR gave Mallorca a penalty that most people had missed. The penalty was converted with aplomb by Alvaro Giménez and hopefully that gets him on his way to scoring a few more since joining on loan from Cadiz.
A tough game today against fifth placed Sporting Gijón who were unlucky not to leave Mallorca with 3 points rather than 1 point when they came to the island back in November. They’ve not lost at home this season and Mallorca haven’t lost away so a good game is expected. They’re on a good run of 7 games without defeat, winning 4 and drawing 3. Mallorca have won all three games since losing to promotion rivals Espanyol and it seems they’re winning and getting the points without playing great football. A good sign, but it would be good to see them click back into the form of early season. They currently lie 5 points ahead of Almeria and Espanyol who could only draw 2-2 at Mirandes last night. In fact they only rescued a point with a 95th minute equaliser.
UD Ibiza won their league last week and go into the play-offs looking like they’re back to their form of earlier in the season.
Peña Deportiva got their result of the season by going to second placed Alcoyano and winning 1-2. That more or less cements their place in the same league next season.
In Tercera Group A, Andratx still lead the way from CD Ibiza in second and Manacor in third. These are the three teams currently in pole position for the promotion play-offs with two games to go.
In Tercera Group B, Platges de Calvia lead from Sant Jordi and Formentera. However Platges lost their first game of the season losing to second placed Sant Jordi 2-0. There’s a four point gap to Real Mallorca B so it looks like they are the three that will move into the play-offs.
In Division Honor, no games this week.
Matches return in youth football next weekend for Infantiles, Cadetes and Juveniles. The younger players still aren’t able to play and will have to wait until April 9th for a decision. Which is utterly ridiculous.
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 