Mallorca vs Alaves Predictions

• Alaves moved up to 14^th and nine points clear of the relegation zone following last week’s 2-1 home win against Eibar. Babazorros head into this Saturday’s fixture having lost just one of their last five La Liga games (W2, D2 and L1).
• Mallorca’s 1-0 away defeat against relegation rivals Espanyol on Matchday 23 saw Los Bermellones slip into the bottom three. Vicente Moreno’s side have now lost three La Liga matches on the spin, and are looking to avoid a fourth home defeat from five at Son Moix this weekend.
• Alaves were comfortable 2-0 winners when the sides met at Mendizorroza in September’s reverse fixture.

Mallorca now long odds-on to bite the dust

Following a 0-1 home defeat against Valladolid on Matchday 22, Mallorca were edged out in another crucial relegation six-pointer last weekend, as Raul De Tomas struck the only goal of the game for Espanyol to hand Periquitos their first victory of the season at RCDE Stadium.

The result saw Mallorca fall into the bottom three after Celta Vigo’s triumphant late comeback against Sevilla, and Los Bermellones are now bang up against it as they try to stave off an immediate return to the second tier.

Vicente Moreno’s side are now long odds-on favourites to fall through the trap door, and the significance of back to back defeats against teams around them in the table certainly hasn’t been lost on the bookmakers.

Mallorca go into this Saturday’s fixture having lost three La Liga matches on the bounce, but the most concerning factor for the Balearic Islanders is their slow form collapse at home. Moreno’s side have accrued all but one of their 18 points at Son Moix this term, but they have now lost three from their last four in Palma following their aforementioned reverse against Valladolid a fortnight ago.

Alaves almost safe

Alaves looked like being sucked into the relegation picture after a serious slump in December, but Asier Garitano’s men have responded extremely well since the turn of the year to ease themselves away from trouble.

Goals from Lucas Perez and Oliver Burke sealed a 2-1 victory for Babazorros against Eibar at Mendizorroza last weekend, and Garitano’s side have lost only to an in-form Villarreal (1-2) thus far in 2020, after also beating Levante (0-1) and earning 1-1 draws against Real Betis and Sevilla.

Alaves’ overall record on the road this season reads poorly with seven defeats suffered from their 11 outings, but four points from their last two away games against Levante and Sevilla means they head to Palma this weekend in decent shape, and confident that they can get the better of Mallorca once more following their 2-0 win against Los Bermellones in September’s reverse fixture.

Recent form points to the visitors at Son Moix

Despite heading the relegation market by a distance, the bookies have priced Mallorca up as slender favourites for this Saturday’s contest; a surprising stance considering the hosts have lost three La Liga games in a row and eight from their last ten.

Los Bermellones have obviously bagged their fair share of points at Son Moix this season and have proved themselves to be a match for most sides on home turf, including Valencia who they crushed 4-1 in the middle of January.

But Mallorca’s home form has generally been on a downward curve, and their recent defeats at Son Moix suggest that Alaves can definitely get something from this weekend’s fixture.

The visitors have been poor overall on their travels this season but may now be turning the corner following their aforementioned results against Levante and Sevilla, and we think Asier Garitano’s charges are worthy of support in the ‘Draw No Bet’ market at a touch odds against here, which gives us the security of stakes returned should things finish all square at the final whistle.

We’re giving the edge to Babazorros though as they look to steer themselves into mid-table, and a 0-1 correct score punt appeals. Any victory for Alaves is likely to be tight, with the visitors netting an average of just under one goal per game on the road this season, while Mallorca have conceded just a shade over one goal per game from their 12 outings at Son Moix.