After a week when 75% of football fans surveyed said VAR had made the game worse – the other 25% agonised over the answer for 15 minutes before reaching the wrong decision! – Real Mallorca with nine games left to play have entered the decisive time of the season and host Real Madrid in an (expected to be) sold out Son Moix on Saturday at 4:15pm.
The international break has heaped added pressure on new Argentinian coach Martin Demichelis. Although the squad has been back in training, he’s been without five of our internationals, Muriqi, Samu Costa, Virgili, Valjent and Mojica. The biggest worry for the coach is did these players return injury-free? Vedat Muriqi’s been starring for his country – Kosovo – in two World Cup qualifiers in the space of a few days.
The importance of the player to the future of Real Mallorca goes without saying as his performances (aside from his 18 goals so far this season) also include his defensive work in which he acts like another centre back. After two matches of maximum physical and mental exertion (plus he’s now 31) a huge game against Real Madrid stretches his fitness levels to the limit – in other words he could well be knackered!
As if Demichelis hasn’t got enough problems trying to shore up our leaky defence, it was reported on Monday night that Real Mallorca has been denounced to the labour inspectorate for possible irregularities involving some of the coach’s backroom staff not having the necessary permits. One local commentator advises the club has been scrambling to rectify this lack of paperwork, having apparently been asleep on the job since the new staff’s arrival with Demichelis a few weeks ago.
On Saturday we face the best away team in La Liga who’ve netted 27 goals on the road. Their coach Arbeloa was on the training ground this week minus 13 players away on international duty. Added to that absentee list are the injured Courtois, Mendy and Rodrygo plus Valverde is suspended. A factor in our favour is that Saturday’s game will be played just three days before the first leg of Real Madrid’s quarter final tie against Bayern Munich. That means Arbeloa would have to juggle his initial starting XI.
In the corresponding game last season (the first of the campaign), it finished 1-1. Rodrygo scored a “worldy” after 13 minutes with Muriqi heading in a (much lamented) Dani Rodriguez corner for a 53rd minute leveller. One player who, under Demichelis, has surprised everybody is 24-year-old Angolan winger Zito Luvumbo. He arrived on the island (by private jet) on February 3 following his loan from Italian side Cagliari.
He’s barely played since joining but all that changed in the Elche game with his surges down the right wing posing a constant threat to the home rearguard. What’s good about Zito is when he’s tackled and falls to the ground, instead of going through the death throes like most players do, he picks himself up without any histrionics and gets on with the game – a breath of fresh air!
It should be interesting to see what happens if, on Saturday, Demichelis picks two wingers, Virgili and Luvumbo. The more options the coach has, the better it is for Real Mallorca. Real Madrid must be favourites. I just hope Mallorca put up a good show and don’t get a “shellacking.”
With a couple of months still to go before the end of the season, some of the bigger clubs in Spain are already putting plans in place to strengthen their squad for 2026/27. Barcelona seem uncertain whether to pay Marcus Rashford’s 30 million euro buy option, while his wage demands are also a problem.
One of the options put forward by the Catalans’ director of football Deco is Mallorca winger Jan Virgili who would jump at the chance to return to Barcelona. Mallorca paid just over 3.5 million euros for his transfer and Barcelona retains just under 50% of any future sale, in addition to a right of first refusal on the player. His release clause is around 30 million meaning Barcelona could re-sign him for around 12 million.
PS Thankfully Muriqi came through Kosovo’s World Cup qualifier elimination in Pristina without any injuries. His tiny country lost 0-1 on Tuesday to a scruffy Turkish goal which gave them their first appearance in the World Cup finals for 24 years. Muriqi played 90 minutes and came off the pitch looking shattered – not a good omen for Saturday.
AND FINALLY, Jimmy’s teacher is giving a lesson in nutrition and asks the class what they had for breakfast. Susan puts up her hand “I had egg, Miss. EGG” “Very good,” says the teacher. Peter says “Toast – TOAST.” Jimmy then sticks his hand up “I had effall,” he says “EFFALL.” The teacher is mortified and scolds Jimmy for his rude answer. Later, the subject is geography. Susan and Peter correctly answer their questions. Jimmy’s hand goes up. The teacher reluctantly asks him “Where is the Mexican border ?” Jimmy has a think then answers “The Mexican border is in bed with Mummy – that’s why I got effall for breakfast !”