Real Mallorca are struggling. Yes I know they are top of the league but if we’re honest since they beat their promotion rivals Almeria four games ago they’ve stuttered. They’ve won two, drawn one and lost one but the wins were a struggle and so was the draw on Saturday night. The defeat worryingly, was in no doubt against possible automatic promotion outsiders Sporting Gijón. The only thing keeping them at the top is the inconsistency from all the other teams around them. In fact when you look at the last five games amongst the top five, Mallorca are the most consistent!
- Real Mallorca 61 points, last 5 games DLWWW
- Espanyol 58 points, last 5 games WDDDW
- Almeria 56 points, last 5 games LDWWL
- Leganés 53 points, last 5 games LWDLW
- Sporting Gijón 52 points, last 5 games DWDDW
So anyone who can find consistency is going to find themselves promoted. Mallorca’s problem is lack of goals and their current top scorer Amath, is out injured. When I say top scorer that highlights another problem, Amath has scored just 8 goals. The leagues top scorer is Djurdjevic of fifth placed Sporting Gijón who has scored 20 goals including two against Mallorca last week. Raul de Tomas of second placed Espanyol has 16 goals and third placed Almeria have two scorers ahead of Amath, Sadiq has 14 and Corpas has 11.
Mallorca don’t have that Man who can stick the ball regularly into the onion bag. Abdon has 7 but blows hot and cold. Marc Cardona who arrived as part of the loan deal for Budimir to Osasuna hasn’t fired, he’s only got 1 goal. Alvaro Giménez who arrived from Cadiz on loan in the January window has also only got 1 goal, a penalty against Cartagena.
On the plus side, they have the tightest defence in the whole league. They’ve only conceded 16 goals in 30 games and that may well help their promotion push.
Segunda B has arrived at its next stage. This where it gets confusing so I’m going to try and explain. The new divisions of Spanish football will look like this.
Tier 1: La Liga run by the National Professional Football League (20 teams)
Tier 2: Segunda Division run by the National Professional Football League (22 teams)
Tier 3: Primera Division run by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (2 x 20 teams)
Tier 4: Segunda Division run by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (5 x 18 teams)
Tier 5: Tercera Division run by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (18 x 18 teams)
This as far as i can work out is what if facing our teams.
UD Ibiza are in with a chance of getting into the Segunda Division.
Peña Deportiva are in the play-offs for relegation to the Segunda division RFEF.
Atlético Baleares are in the play-offs to stay in the Primera Division RFEF.
UD Poblense are in the play-offs for relegation to the Segunda division RFEF.
In Tercera there are two rounds of matches to go. This weekend and then after Easter on the 11th of April. The teams in the promotion places to go to the play-offs of the RFEF Segunda in Group A are, Ibiza Pitiusas, Andratx and Constancia and in Group B, Platges de Calvia, SD Formentera and PE Sant Jordi.
In Division Honor, CD San Francisco and Real Mallorca battled out a 1-1 draw, which was no good to either team as CF Damn leapfrogged them both to finish in the final place for the Champions Cup phase. It means San Francisco, Real Mallorca and Penya Arrabal all face a battle in the play-offs to remain in the Division.
I’ll have further news on the youth football from the U-11’s downwards at the weekend.
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
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