Mallorca vs Barcelona Odds & Preview: La Liga Round 28

• Barcelona travel to Mallorca on June 13 in the restarted La Liga season
• Both teams have plenty at stake, with Barcelona heading for another La Liga title and Mallorca in the relegation zone
• Get the preview, odds and best bets for the game below

La Liga finally returned on Thursday, with Sevilla beating Real Betis behind closed doors, and is followed this weekend by a full Matchday 28 schedule. On Saturday, league leaders Barcelona travel to the Son Moix stadium to play relegation-threatened Mallorca, with the Catalans desperate to hit the ground running and not allow Real Madrid the chance to close the two-point gap.

We’ll preview the game, look at their form prior to the lockdown and see if we can find some value for the bettors.

RCD Mallorca vs Barcelona Odds

Odds taken June 12.

Stakes are Massive

While Barcelona needs three points in order to maintain their challenge at the top of La Liga, Mallorca’s need for the win is just as great as they are fully ensconced in a relegation battle at the wrong end of the table. As things stand, the Islanders are in the drop zone but are only a single point behind 17th-placed Celta Vigo and two points behind 16th-placed Eibar. They are very much still in the mix and even a point for them here would be invaluable.

Both teams won their final games going into the enforced break – Barca narrowly beat Real Sociedad 1-0, while Mallorca beat Eibar 2-1- but such has been the length of the break, the resumption will feel more like the start of a new campaign than a continuation. This is particularly disappointing for Mallorca, whose form at the time of the lockdown was looking likely to pull them clear of trouble.

Setien’s Plan in Place

For Barca, while they were also in good form, manager Quique Setien had only been in the job since mid-January and the break gave him time to assess his squad and formulate his plan going forward. With plenty of firepower at his disposal in what is a hugely talented squad, Setien will be hoping the break will have enabled him to get his ideas across.

Unsurprisingly, Barca holds the upper hand in this fixture, and in their 64 meetings have won 36 times, but it’s worth noting that Mallorca have won 16. When the pair met back in December at the Camp Nou, the Catalans ran out easy 5-2 winners thanks to a Lionel Messi hat-trick and goals from Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez.

RCD Mallorca vs Barcelona La Liga Head-to-Head Stats

No Dembele but Suarez Fit to Play a Part

In terms of team news, the resumption has come too soon for French winger Ousmane Dembele, who looks set to remain sidelined until August, but Suarez has successfully recovered from injury even though he may not start. Setien has confirmed, however, he will play some part in the game as he regains match fitness.

Definitely out though is French center-back Clement Lenglet, who is suspended after picking up a yellow card against Sociedad, but Messi will play despite an injury scare in training during the week.

Mallorca’s need for the win is just as great as they are fully ensconced in a relegation battle at the wrong end of the table.

Mallorca manager Vicente Moreno has a smaller squad, with fewer big names, but has a full complement to pick from with no major injury worries. His team will though be without the benefit of their fervent home support that can make the Son Moix stadium such an intimidating arena for visitors.

🔙 La Liga is back, and so is our Play Red podcast featuring:

👹 Club updates from board member @graemelesaux14

🇲🇰 Aleksandar Trajkovski on why he can have an impact in the team

🗞 And we round up the latest news from an eventful week

👉🏻 https://t.co/0HvNG9z0I0 pic.twitter.com/UOmCLhmAwX

— Real Mallorca (@RCD_Mallorca) June 11, 2020

Barca Passing Game to Prosper?

So, everything points to an away win even with Mallorca desperately needing the points, especially when you consider they have lost their last six La Liga matches against Barca, and haven’t won against the Catalans in La Liga since May 2009. It’s a massive ask for the Islanders.

Barca’s passing game is likely to favor the visitors and with neither team anywhere near full match fitness, the fact Mallorca will spend much of the game without the ball will likely take its toll. Even if Mallorca can keep it tight and, possibly, goalless in the first half, the quality of Barca and their fresher legs should see them home with some comfort.

Pick: Mallorca 0 Barcelona 3 (-2.5, +180)