Elche 1 - Real Mallorca 1
Back in action after the Christmas break, Mallorca, eighteenth in the Segunda away at tenth-placed Elche (not far from Alicante). Seven points difference between the two just highlights that for all that Mallorca are just above the relegation zone (only on goal difference) they go into 2016 only nine points off a play-off spot. There again, for a side that won only four of their eighteen matches in the 2015 part of the season, making up that sort of deficit is not going to be easy, especially as they have scored fewer goals than any other side in the league with the exception of Bilbao Athletic in twenty-first position.
With the American, Robert Sarver, who is set to become the new majority shareholder of the club, watching on with Utz Claassen, Mallorca made a bright start. Moutinho, Pereira and Brandon all had efforts stopped by Jiménez, and then León shot Elche ahead after 25 minutes, having lost the Mallorca defence from an Espinosa cross.
Into the second half and Mallorca were continuing to create the greater opportunities, Jiménez denying Brandon on 50 minutes and then the post doing so ten minutes later. When luck for Mallorca seemed to be lacking, it came from a corner, Armando putting through his own goal off his shoulder. With Coro soon after seeing another Mallorca effort stopped and the game opening up, Pelayo struck the bar for Elche.
At the end, Mallorca and coach Galvez will probably be content with the draw, but earlier dominance could and perhaps should have brought greater reward.
Elche
Jiménez; Caro, Lolo, Armando, Martínez; Espinosa, Pelayo, Mandi, Moreno (Samuel 74); Hector (Álvaro 70); León
Mallorca
Wellenreuther; Campabadal, Costas, Aveldaño, Oriol; Pereira, Sabater, Yuste (Sissoko 74), Moutinho (James 58); Brandon, Fofo (Coro 64)
Goals
Elche: León 25
Mallorca: Armando 65o.g.
Yellows
Elche: Pelayo 77
Mallorca: Moutinho 38, Campabadal 42, Yuste 67, Wellenreuther 76, Oriol 85