Injuries Challenge Mallorca Ahead of Crucial Match Against Barcelona

BARCELONA, Spain — RCD Mallorca will visit FC Barcelona on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. amidst a wave of injuries challenging the team’s lineup. Key players including Vedat Muriqi, Robert Navarro, Takuma Asano, and Manu Morlanes will be sidelined due to injuries, while Pablo Maffeo and Dani Rodríguez will miss the match after accumulating yellow cards.

The absence of six regular starters presents a significant hurdle for Mallorca’s head coach Jagoba Arrasate, who has been forced to implement a rotation system to maintain competitiveness. “We will have a competitive lineup that seeks a good result,” Arrasate stated. “It’s a test for us, and we’ll stick to what has worked in our recent matches.”

Barcelona, leading La Liga with 88 goals, recently overcame a challenging stretch, including a comeback win against Celta Vigo after trailing 1-3, ultimately securing a thrilling 4-3 victory. The team is in pursuit of consecutive victories to solidify their title ambitions.

In their previous encounter this season, Barcelona dominated Mallorca with a 5-1 scoreline. However, the current iteration of the Mallorca squad has demonstrated marked improvement defensively, notably keeping two consecutive clean sheets against Leganés (0-0) and Real Sociedad (2-0).

Despite feeling frustrated over not securing a home win against Leganés, Arrasate acknowledged the defensive solidity his team has displayed. “I value the zero on our scoreboard, as Leganés had no shots on goal,” he remarked. “Tuesday will be a true measuring stick for us.”

Throughout the season, Mallorca has shown resilience, and their recent performance has garnered attention as the team eyes a spot in European competition. Arrasate expressed optimism despite the setbacks, stating, “We see it as an opportunity lost, but we need to focus on what lies ahead.”

As they prepare for the battle at Montjuïc, the stakes are high for both teams, making it crucial for Mallorca to adapt swiftly to their situation while aiming for a surprise outcome against the league leaders.