LaLiga 2024-2025 - Matchday 19
Mallorca-Barça: A very complicated trip to try to get out of the crisis
The advancement of the nineteenth LaLiga match due to the Spanish Super Cup means that FC Barcelona will travel to Son Moix. It is a very demanding match that the Blaugrana team must try to win in order to get their run back on track.
Football doesn't understand bad times. It's like a boxing match, where the opponent is constantly hitting and it's the professional who has to react. This is what has been happening to Barça in recent weeks. After the recent setbacks in La Liga, there is no rest for the Blaugrana team, which will play this Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. against RCD Mallorca in Son Moix.
The month of December arrives like a train, which FC Barcelona must get on or be run over. There are 5 games in 18 days, 4 of them in the league. With Real Madrid just one point behind, the team managed by Hansi Flick has no margin for error. It is not time to give up, but to play "as a united team" and "recover the good connections between defence and attack," as the German coach said after the defeat against Las Palmas.
Barça must start the month of December well
"We must work as a team, trust in our game and take advantage of the opportunities. If we do that, I am sure that we will return to our best level," explained Hansi Flick in the press conference after the weekend's match. The coach is clear about the formula that made his pupils the sensation of Europe and he is sure that it will work again. One of the keys is the lack of efficiency in front of goal: out of 25 shots in the last three league games, only 7 have been on target and 3 have ended in goals. Similarly, the disconnections in defence explain the 3 goals conceded in those games.
The problem is localized and now is the time to eradicate it. The dressing room is united and Flick is a good leader, so it is only a matter of The coach explained that the team will have to avoid disconnections and play as a team. However, doing so at Son Moix against a Mallorca that is coming in strong will not be easy. In the last three seasons, the visits to the island have been very hard-fought: 2-2 in 23/24; 0-1 in 22/23 and 0-1 in 21/22.
For this match, Hansi Flick will be able to count on Balde, who left the field in shock after a knock with Sandro Ramírez, but who is fine as he himself confirmed on his social networks. The squad will be similar to the one he made to play against Las Palmas, as there have been no additions or absences. Ronald Araujo, despite already training with the group, is not expected to travel yet, as the club does not want to rush and prefers him to fully recover.
Marc Casadó will also be available after serving a suspension against Las Palmas. Dani Olmo will also be able to play in Mallorca if Hansi Flick wants, as he has trained normally after not playing a single minute in the previous match due to discomfort in his groin. Finally, Lamine Yamal is expected to receive more minutes after playing the second half on Saturday. With all this, Barça will be looking to take the three points in Son Moix.
Mallorca arrives sixth in the table
Facing FC Barcelona will be Jagoba Arrasate's Mallorca. The Biscayan coach has already managed to form a very solid team with Osasuna and is replicating it at Mallorca. It is not a team that scores a lot of goals, in fact, it has not won a single match by more than one goal. However, it is in sixth place with 24 points, collected through 7 victories, 3 draws and 5 defeats. Focusing on Son Moix, they have managed to win on 3 occasions, draw on 3 others and have only been defeated twice.
"They will have more urgency now and that is why I expect the best Barça. We will have to be close to perfection. The team is good and eager, excited to face a great rival with the help of the fans, after the last victory," explained Arrasate about his rival. The Mallorca coach assured that the team led by Flick will have 70% of the possession and that the key is to take advantage of that 30% to find the spaces.
As for the squad's availability, Mallorca has three players out due to injury: Toni Lato, Copete and Cuéllar. On the other hand, Takuma Asano and Vedat Muriqi are back, the first having recovered from injury and the second having served his suspension against Valencia.
FC Barcelona therefore has a tough challenge ahead of them to beat the Bermellón team. However, if they do not want to lose sight of their objectives, it is crucial that they leave Son Moix with the three points under their belt. However difficult it may be, winning is key, both in terms of sport and in terms of the morale of the players.
