Espanyol vs Mallorca Predictions

• Espanyol are still seeking their first home win of the season in La Liga (D4, L7), however they have lost just one of their last five, a run which has included draws against champions Barcelona (2-2) and third placed Getafe (1-1).
• Mallorca have drawn one and lost nine of their ten league games on the road this term.
• Espanyol have scored twice in three of their last four home games, while Mallorca have failed to score in six of their ten away matches this term, including their last two trips to the mainland.

A huge three points up for grabs in Barcelona

There are still 16 rounds to go in the current La Liga season, but this Sunday morning’s fixture between Espanyol and Mallorca looks a potentially pivotal clash in the scrap to avoid relegation this term.

Mallorca have grimly held onto 17^th place for a number of weeks despite winning just one of their last nine (W1, D1 and L7), but they have a real job on their hands to avoid slipping into the bottom three this weekend.

Los Bermellones travel to RCDE Stadium with just one away point on the board from ten matches so far this season, and they take on an Espanyol side who have been making steady progress under new boss Abelardo.

Periquitos can wipe out the three point gap between the sides with a win here, and that would drag Mallorca into the relegation zone unless both Leganes and Celta Vigo are beaten on Matchday 23.

Espanyol in better shape than Los Bermellones

For all of Mallorca’s woes on the road, Espanyol’s home record reads almost as poorly this season, with Periquitos still seeking their first win league victory at RCDE Stadium after four draws ad seven defeats from 11.

Nonetheless, all of those draws have been posted in Espanyol’s last five outings in Barcelona, including a thrilling 2-2 derby result against the champions at the beginning of January. Espanyol have also secured home draws against Real Betis (2-2) and Athletic Bilbao (1-1), either side of a superb 1-2 success against Villarreal at La Ceramica.

So despite fluffing a lead to lose 2-1 at Granada last weekend, Periquitos have been in much better shape overall than Mallorca of late, with the Balearic Islanders losing four of their last five La Liga matches to nil.

Espanyol to secure elusive home success this Sunday

This isn’t exactly a straightforward puzzle for punters to get up and running on Sunday morning, with a bundle of negative statistics hanging over both teams.

That’s to be expected considering the league positions of these sides, however there have been far more encouraging signs of late from Espanyol.

They have more than matched Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao at RCDE Stadium since Abelardo took charge, while also accounting for an in-form Villarreal side on their travels.  A repeat of those performances here should see Periquitos attain an elusive home success, and we don’t envisage Mallorca stepping up on their away displays under the duress of the situation.

Espanyol have looked good going forward over the past couple of months, netting twice in three of their last four at home and in four of their last six La Liga matches overall. With Mallorca failing to score in six of their ten away games and shipping an average of 2.5 goals on their travels, we’re also tipping up a 2-0 correct score this Sunday in favour of the hosts.