Athletic Club vs. Mallorca Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 9 March 2025 - bettingexpert
Get ready for a LaLiga showdown on 9 March 2025, as Athletic Club hosts Mallorca at the renowned San Mames, with kick-off set for 17:30. This is an essential fixture in Round 27 of the competition, with Athletic Club currently sitting 4th on the table with 49 points, while Mallorca finds themselves in 7th with 37 points. With 20 teams fiercely competing in LaLiga and 38 rounds in the season, every match counts as we approach the climax.
Both sides come into this match following a 1-1 draw in their last encounter. Athletic Club, strong at home, are favorites to win with solid odds of 1.39. With their potent attack led by top scorer Oihan Sancet, who has netted 13 goals, and a solid defense, they are expected to pose a significant challenge for Mallorca. Recent performances might tip in Athletic’s favor considering Mallorca’s struggles on the road and inability to secure a clean sheet in their last five games.
Expect coach Ernesto Valverde to field a robust line-up, including the much-talked-about Mikel Jauregizar, who has drawn European interest. While injuries have sidelined key players Álvaro Djaló and Daniel Vivian, the San Mames crowd will be backing their team towards another critical win. Referee Alejandro Hernandez will be in charge, known for his average of 0.3 red cards per match this season.
Prediction: Athletic Club to win, with a one-goal margin likely!
Athletic Club vs Mallorca Prediction & Betting Tip
Recommended Prediction: Athletic Club Win
Given Athletic Club’s strong home form, solid defense, and superior positioning in the table, they are the clear favorites against Mallorca. This prediction is supported by historical head-to-head dominance and recent clean sheets, alongside Oihan Sancet’s prolific scoring record.
| Athletic Club vs Mallorca Prediction | |
|---|---|
| Betting Tip | Odds |
| Athletic Club Win | 1.39 |
Why this prediction is solid:
- Athletic Club has an impressive home record and has shown defensive resilience.
- Athletic Club is ranked 4th in LaLiga, significantly ahead of 7th-placed Mallorca.
- In their last encounter at San Mames, Athletic Club secured a convincing 4-0 victory.
Expect Athletic Club to leverage their home advantage and clinch a much-needed win to push their Champions League aspirations further.
Athletic Club vs Mallorca Odds
Athletic Club enters this match as the bookmakers’ favorite, reflecting their strong home performance and superior standing in La Liga. Mallorca, positioned 7th, faces an uphill battle, especially on the road.
| Athletic Club vs Mallorca Betting Odds | |
|---|---|
| Bet | Odds |
| Athletic Club | 1.39 |
| Draw | 3.93 |
| Mallorca | 6.25 |
Athletic Club’s odds of 1.39 indicate high confidence in their victory. A draw, while less likely, is given odds of 3.93, and a Mallorca win is the long shot at 6.25.
Given these odds, Athletic Club is the standout pick, especially when considering their superior form and head-to-head dominance.
Athletic Club Team Analysis
Athletic Club Recent Performance
Athletic Club’s recent form has been a mixed bag, with a record of one win, two draws, and two losses. They’ve demonstrated a solid attack, averaging 2.4 goals in their last five games, although their defense has been somewhat shaky, managing only one clean sheet in the same period.
Despite the recent loss to Roma in the Europa League, they’ve shown resilience, particularly in their impressive 7-1 win against Real Valladolid. Here’s a look at their last five matches:
| Home team | Away team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic Club | Mallorca | 1-1 (Draw) |
| Roma | Athletic Club | 2-1 (Loss) |
| Atletico Madrid | Athletic Club | 1-0 (Loss) |
| Athletic Club | Real Valladolid | 7-1 (Win) |
| Espanyol | Athletic Club | 1-1 (Draw) |
With 49 points and sitting in 4th position in LaLiga, Athletic Club remains in strong contention for a top-four finish, emphasizing their significance this season.
Athletic Club Key Players
Athletic Club will look to their top performers to lead the charge in this crucial LaLiga fixture. Oihan Sancet, the team’s top scorer with 13 goals, is likely to be a major threat and will need to navigate past Mallorca’s defence. In midfield, Mikel Jaureguizar has been turning heads, with interest from Bayer Leverkusen discussing a potential move. His ability to control the pace and deliver key assists could be instrumental.
Ernesto Valverde will rely on a strong lineup to secure the win:
- Goalkeeper: Unai Simón
- Defenders: Andoni Gorosabel, Aitor Paredes, Yeray Álvarez, Adama Boiro
- Midfielders: Mikel Jaureguizar, Beñat Prados, Alejandro Berenguer Remiro, Peio Canales, Nico Williams
- Forward: Gorka Guruzeta
Expect Sancet to go against Mallorca’s central defense led by Antonio Raíllo, creating an engaging battle to watch.
Athletic Club Suspensions & Injuries
Athletic Club will be missing two key players due to injuries, which might affect their squad depth and defensive capabilities:
| Player | Injury | Expected return |
|---|---|---|
| Álvaro Djaló | Ankle injury | Mid-March 2025 |
| Daniel Vivian | Thigh injury | Late-March 2025 |
Álvaro Djaló, who has been a reliable presence, is sidelined with an ankle injury and is expected to return in mid-March. Additionally, the absence of Daniel Vivian due to a thigh injury, with a projected return later this month, might leave a gap in the defensive lineup. Ernesto Valverde will need to adapt his strategy to cope with these absentees and ensure that their impact on the defensive end is mitigated.
Athletic Club Tactics and Formation
- Formation: 4-2-3-1
- Key Forward: Gorka Guruzeta
- Midfield Duo: Mikel Jauregi and Beñat Prados
- Defensive Strength: Athletic Club concedes just 0.8 goals on average this season and has secured a clean sheet recently.
- Notable Strategy: They are particularly strong in the time interval of 31-45 minutes where they have scored most of their goals this season.
Athletic Club’s approach hinges on solid defense and an impactful midfield presence, led by Jauregizar, who’s attracting attention across Europe. The formation allows for balanced play, with a single striker supported by an attacking midfield trio. With a reliable goalkeeper in Unai Simón and a strong defensive lineup, they will look to control the game and push forward in key moments.
Mallorca Team Analysis
Mallorca Recent Performance
| Home team | Away team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic Club | Mallorca | 1-1 (Draw) |
| Mallorca | Deportivo Alaves | 1-1 (Draw) |
| Sevilla | Mallorca | 1-1 (Draw) |
| Mallorca | Las Palmas | 3-1 (Win) |
| Mallorca | Osasuna | 1-1 (Draw) |
Mallorca have experienced a series of draws lately, showcasing a resilient but somewhat stagnant run of form. Over their last five matches, they’ve accumulated three draws, one win, and no clean sheets, maintaining an average of 1.20 goals scored per game. Their only win came against Las Palmas, indicating potential but also inconsistencies.
Despite their middling performances, Mallorca is a gritty side capable of pulling off surprises. Scoring is led by Vedat Muriqi, though their defense needs tightening to secure all three points more consistently.
Mallorca Key Players
Expected lineup for Mallorca:
- Goalkeeper: Dominik Greif
- Defenders: Martin Valjent, Antonio Raíllo, José Manuel Arias Copete
- Midfielders: Pablo Maffeo, Omar Mascarell, Samú Costa, Johan Mojica, Sergi Darder
- Attackers: Takuma Asano, Vedat Muriqi
Vedat Muriqi, with 6 goals this season, is Mallorca’s main threat up front. His physicality and aerial ability could pose problems for Athletic Club’s defense, particularly in set-piece situations.
Sergi Darder’s creative playmaking from the midfield will be crucial in supplying Muriqi and unlocking the Athletic defense.
A key battle to watch will be Muriqi versus Aitor Paredes, who will be tasked with nullifying Muriqi’s goal-scoring capabilities.
Omar Mascarell’s stability in midfield can also play a significant role in both defense and initiating attacks.
Mallorca Suspensions & Injuries
| Player | Injury | Expected return |
|---|---|---|
| None | – | – |
Mallorca doesn’t have any players suspended or injured at the moment. This injury-free squad will be a significant advantage for Coach Jagoba Arrasate, giving him the freedom to choose his strongest lineup.
Without any absences, Mallorca can field their best possible eleven, which could help them deliver a more cohesive and dynamic performance against Athletic Club. This could be crucial when facing a top-four side like Athletic, who will look to capitalize on any weaknesses.
Mallorca Tactics and Formation
Mallorca’s Tactical Breakdown:
- Formation: 4-2-3-1
- Key Forward: Vedat Muriqi
- Midfield Setup: Omar Mascarell and Samú Costa as central midfielders with Sergi Darder supporting the attack.
- Defensive Strength: A five-man defensive line in recent matches hints at a robust backline, but no clean sheets in their last five games signal room for improvement.
- Notable Strategy: Pushing forward with wingers Pablo Maffeo and Johan Mojica, combined with Asano’s swift movement.
Coach Jagoba Arrasate is likely to focus on compact defending while using Muriqi’s physicality up front to hold up the ball and create opportunities on the break.
Athletic Club vs Mallorca Head-to-Head Statistics
| Home | Away | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic Club | Mallorca | 1-1 |
| Mallorca | Athletic Club | 0-0 |
| Athletic Club | Mallorca | 1-1 (4-2 PS) |
| Athletic Club | Mallorca | 4-0 |
| Mallorca | Athletic Club | 0-0 |
Athletic Club holds a strong recent record against Mallorca, remaining unbeaten in their last five encounters.
Notably, they secured an impressive 4-0 victory the last time they met at San Mames, showcasing Athletic Club’s dominance at home.
Additionally, their last clash resulted in a 1-1 draw, indicating Mallorca’s capability to challenge.
Odds accurate as of 10th March 2025 at 11:08, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.
