Barcato return to winning ways as they head to Mallorca
Barcelona will be aiming to return to winning ways in Spain’s top flight when they head to Mallorca on Tuesday evening.
Hansi Flick‘s side remain top of the La Liga table, but they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Las Palmas on Saturday, while Mallorca will enter the intriguing contest off the back of a 2-1 home success over Valencia.
Mallorca’s position of sixth in the La Liga table is surprising considering that they have only scored 15 times in their 15 league games this season, with their success this term being built on a strong defence.
Indeed, Jagoba Arrasate‘s side have only conceded 13 times, which is the joint third-best defensive record in the division, and they will enter this match off the back of successive wins over Las Palmas and Valencia.
Mallorca are only two points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao and will certainly have their eye on a European spot this term, although they will surely need to start hitting the back of the net on a more regular basis if that is to be the case.
The Pirates have not actually beaten Barcelona since May 2009, but the points were shared in the corresponding match during the 2023-24 campaign, and Mallorca will be welcoming a team that are currently struggling for form in the league.
Barcelona have only picked up one point from their last three league fixtures, and they will enter this match off the back of a shock 2-1 home defeat to Las Palmas.
The Catalan outfit remain top of the La Liga table, with a record of 11 wins, one draw and three defeats from 15 matches bringing them 34 points, but they are now just one point above second-placed Real Madrid, who have a game in hand.
This is a really tough match for Barcelona, and it would not be a surprise to see the Catalan outfit drop more points on Tuesday; Flick’s side need a response after a difficult run in the league, though, and we are backing the division leaders to navigate their way to a crucial three points at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Kudusis back! -as Leicesterhost West Ham United
The Ruud van Nistelrooy era at the King Power Stadium commences on Tuesday evening, when Leicester City host fellow bottom-half battlers West Ham United in the Premier League.
Both sides have weekend wrongs to right on December 3, as the Foxes were pummelled 4-1 by Brentford on Saturday, a couple of hours before Julen Lopetegui‘s side were on the wrong end of a 5-2 scoreline versus Arsenal.
Watching on from the comfort of the stands Van Nistelrooy – who was confirmed as Steve Cooper‘s replacement on a three-year contract on Friday – was given plenty to ponder as he witnessed the Foxes fumble a one-goal lead at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Indeed, the Foxes have now conceded at least three goals in four of their previous six matches in all competitions, although the King Power faithful almost always have something to cheer; Tuesday’s hosts have scored in all seven of their home matches in all competitions so far this season, albeit netting just once in six of those contests.
Leicester’s defensive efforts on Saturday were not aided by an early injury to Caleb Okoli, who was involved in a collision with his own goalkeeper Mads Hermansen while trying to prevent Wissa from equalising for Brentford.
Okoli’s status remains unclear at this juncture, but Van Nistelrooy should introduce Jannik Vestergaard into the first XI for his inaugural game.
As for West Ham, Lopetegui will receive a significant attacking fillip for Tuesday’s game in the shape of Mohammed Kudus‘s return from a five-game suspension, and the Ghana international has every right to expect an immediate recall to the XI.
Crysencio Summerville was sacrificed at half time in the Arsenal defeat and will likely make way for the eligible-again Kudus, and there is still a slim chance that Niclas Fullkrug (calf) could be fit to face Leicester.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Ipswich Town and Palaceclash in a crucial bottom-half battle
Separated only by goal difference in the lower echelons of the Premier League table, Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace clash in a crucial bottom-half battle at Portman Road on Tuesday evening.
The Tractor Boys’ unbeaten streak was snapped in a 1-0 reverse at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, while the Eagles were seemingly consigned to the same fate against Newcastle United before dramatically rescuing a point from a 1-1 draw.
The battle for attacking supremacy between Forest’s Chris Wood and Ipswich’s Liam Delap promised to be an intriguing one before Saturday’s City Ground encounter, although both sets of supporters may have felt unfulfilled after a disappointing goalless first half.
However, with just four minutes gone after the restart, Sammie Szmodics felled Jota Silva in the box, and Wood paid homage to the old-style of penalties with a thunderous effort down the middle to settle a closely-contested battle, one in which Kieran McKenna‘s men were far from outplayed but lacked that killer instinct in the final third.
Defeat on Forest’s turf represented a rude awakening for Ipswich following their applaudable three-game unbeaten sequence against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Leicester City, and they have slipped back down to 19th place in the standings as a result.
Only one of Palace’s last six games has ended in defeat as Glasner’s men seek to kickstart a winter revival, and the Eagles have recently discovered a knack for netting on the road, scoring twice in each of their last three away matches across all competitions.
A first clean sheet of the season on rival turf is still eluding the visitors, but Palace did come out on top in their most recent showdown with Ipswich, a 2017-18 EFL Cup second-round contest in which James McArthur scored both Eagles goals in a 2-1 win.
Ipswich have taken on the role of stalemate specialists in this Premier League campaign – especially at their Portman Road headquarters – and neither goalkeeper should add to their clean sheet totals given both defences’ respective frailties.
However, as the Eagles have started to find a clinical edge on the road and also have Eze fit and firing again, we have faith in Glasner’s side to edge an incredibly tight battle, boosting their survival prospects at the expense of their hosts.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
FIXTURES
Ipswich Town 19:30 Crystal Palace
