After a week when the cost of a pint of beer hit £10 for the first time in London – people from Yorkshire were heard to say “How much?” – Real Mallorca have four “finals” to decide their fate in La Liga 25/26, starting with a home game on Sunday afternoon against third-placed Villareal, kick off in Son Moix is at 2pm.
The visitors have already booked their place in next season’s Champions League and demolished Levante 5-1 last weekend, having scored 64 goals so far this season. They could be classed as “superior opposition.” However, so were Real Madrid in early April and we beat them 2-1. Sevilla’s 1-0 win against a “nothing to play for” Real Sociedad, in front of 43,000 last Monday, means that seven teams are separated by just three points. Everything is up in the air. To say it’s tough down there would be an understatement as these seven sides fight tooth and nail to avoid the ignominy of being relegated to the second division.
The situation for all these clubs to go down or stay up could hang on three things: (1) luck, (2) dodgy refereeing and (3) dubious VAR decisions – especially the dreaded hand ball in the penalty area. Spanish referees have given over 30 handball decisions in penalty areas so far this season. In the English Premier League it’s nine!
Real Mallorca now have to share the arduous journey of salvation with six other sides and I can’t remember in all the 43 years I’ve followed Real Mallorca there’s been so many in a relegation dog-fight in La Liga. One way or another the Palma side ideally need six points (and no less than four points) from four games to secure their place in the league for a record sixth consecutive term. Our next two games, on Sunday and next Wednesday away at Conference League-chasing Getafe, will be extremely demanding.
Most of the fixtures on Match Day 37 (next Sunday May 17) will have unified kick-off times of 7pm. These could be subject to change depending on the results of the previous match day. All the excitement will be influenced by the other matches.
When I started watching Real Mallorca in the mid 1980s, these end-of-season games were called “transistor radio games” as everybody in the old Luis Sitjar stadium had their ears glued to tiny radios the size of a matchbox. On May 17 Mallorca will play away in Valencia against Levante, who could either be fighting for survival or, depending on results, already relegated. Everything suggests they could stay in La Liga contention which would make this game the toughest of all for Mallorca. It’s vital that we go into the final match day (at home to Oviedo) with a point or two to spare, which would avoid the head to head count or even goal difference.
The survival path has begun to take shape under coach Martin Demichelis guidance. Key players like Leo Roman (despite the goal keeper’s four yellow cards – all for time-wasting), Maffeo (who will miss Sunday because of suspension), Morlanes and Pablo Torre have raised their levels. Sergi Darder, in his pivotal role, looks a different player. The “wizard of Arta’s” stats show he’s provided 29 out of 33 accurate passes, completed 45 touches of the ball and two scoring opportunities created.
Pablo Torre is another player whose game has blossomed under Demichelis. His only problem is he doesn’t seem able to complete 90 minutes on a regular basis. The Cantabrian was signed by Barcelona from Racing Santander in 2022 and was hailed as a “new diamond in the rough.” At Barcelona he didn’t get the game time he wanted and he went for a season on loan to Girona. After that finished, Mallorca snapped him up on a four-year deal for a rumoured 5 million euros. His natural position is that of a classic attacking midfielder behind Muriqi.
It was reported that Mallorca striker Cyle Larin’s loan deal at Southampton included an option to buy for £3.4 million upon promotion. His 10 goals have rocketed The Saints into fourth place (from 14th) and they face a play off against Middlesbrough. If they don’t win promotion he’s still likely to sign a deal at Southampton. Larin was a waste of space at Real Mallorca. He was lazy and couldn’t trap a bag of wet cement. The fact that his country Canada are co-hosts of the World Cup has resurrected his career as he hadn’t played for Canada for quite a while and he’s found his niche in the championship. Cyle Larin, reviled at Real Mallorca, reviled in Holland at Feyenoord, is now idolised at Southampton. If they sign him (his salary exceeds 4 million euros), it will save Mallorca from this huge financial burden. Football, it’s a funny old game!
AND FINALLY, an elderly lady reaches the age at 90 and her family is unable to look after her full time, so they research the best care home in the area and check her in one morning. She finds the accommodation comfortable and the staff are kind and attentive, so the family leave her to settle in, knowing that she is in good hands. On the first afternoon, a carer finds her tilted over to the right in her armchair, and helps her back into an upright position. A little later, another carer finds her tilted over to the left, and helps her to sit up straight. Later on the family call her to make sure that she is happy with everything so far and she says that everything is fine, apart from one thing. Asked what that might be, she replies “They won’t let me fart!”