Who: Mallorca vs Barcelona
What: Spanish La Liga
The place: Estadi Mallorca Son Moix in Mallorca, Spain
When: Saturday at 7:30pm (17:30 GMT)
How you can observe: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 4:30pm (15:30 GMT) prematurely of our reside textual content commentary stream.
Barcelona start their defence of their La Liga title on Saturday after flying to the island of Mallorca.
The Catalan membership disposed of their fierce rivals and winners of the earlier 12 months’s title, Actual Madrid, on all fronts final season.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a take a look at the primary main match of the brand new La Liga season and what clues there could also be as as to if Barca will give Actual a glimpse of hope within the title race this time round.
How dominant have been Barcelona final season?
The Catalan membership is coming off considered one of its greatest seasons in years, having received the league, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Tremendous Cup. It additionally went deep within the Champions League, reaching the semifinals for the primary time since 2019.
How huge a task will Marcus Rashford play at Barcelona?
In its second 12 months beneath coach Hansi Flick, the Catalan membership will attempt to add to its success from final season by boosting its squad with Marcus Rashford on mortgage from Manchester United. He shall be teaming up with Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski in an attacking entrance that was among the best in Europe final season.
It led the scoring charts each within the Spanish league – with greater than 100 objectives – and within the Champions League.
With Lewandowski set to overlook the beginning of the brand new season, Rashford will vie with Ferran Torres for a spot in Barca’s assault.
After Rashford fell down the pecking order at Outdated Trafford, his transfer to Barcelona presents an enormous likelihood to rebuild his profession.
What different modifications have Barcelona made?
Leaving the staff are veteran defender Inigo Martínez, who has signed with Saudi membership Al-Nassr, and Ansu Fati, who went on mortgage to Monaco after not taking part in a lot final season.
What number of La Liga titles have Barcelona received?
Final season’s title was Barcelona’s twenty eighth trophy carry in La Liga. Actual Madrid are the document winners with 36 victories to their title.
Has Mallorca ever crushed Barcelona?
Sure. The Spanish islanders have received 17 of their 75 conferences. Barca, nevertheless, have received 44 of the encounters.
The place did Mallorca end final season?
Mallorca squeezed into the highest half of La Liga final season with a Tenth-placed end.
Just one staff had a worse residence document among the many high 12 groups final season after Mallorca recorded solely seven wins in 19 league matches in entrance of their very own crowd. Six of these video games resulted in defeats.
What occurred the final time Barcelona met Mallorca?
Barca narrowly beat Mallorca 1-0 at residence of their final assembly in April. Dani Olmo scored the one aim within the first minute of the second half to settle the La Liga match.
The corresponding fixture resulted in a 5-1 win for Barca with Raphinha netting twice.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick’s prematch ideas
“We’re working exhausting to face this new season. Successful three titles final 12 months isn’t the tip – it’s a continuation. We’ll give all the things this 12 months.
“Lamine Yamal nonetheless has room to enhance. I like what I’m seeing. He’s coaching very nicely, with and with out the ball, defending and urgent.”
Head-to-head
Mallorca haven’t defeated Barcelona since Could 2009 – a 2-1 residence win in an end-of-season affair in La Liga.
Barca, in the meantime, have received 14 of their final 15 matches in opposition to Mallorca in all competitions.
Mallorca staff information
Pablo Maffeo shall be closely missed in defence as a consequence of a hamstring damage.
Pablo Torre is about to begin in opposition to his former aspect, having joined from Barcelona in the summertime window. Spain Beneath-21 worldwide Mateo Joseph can be in line to function, having joined on mortgage from Leeds United.
Omar Mascarell has a suspension hanging over from final season after his reserving within the remaining recreation of the final La Liga marketing campaign.
Barcelona staff information
The Catalan membership begins the season with out veteran goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen due to surgical procedure for decrease again issues.
The goalkeeper was at odds with the membership about his restoration time. He was provisionally stripped of his captaincy for refusing to signal a medical report concerning the damage, however he and the membership finally reached an settlement that restored his function as captain.
Veteran striker Lewandowski additionally isn’t anticipated to play early within the new marketing campaign due to a muscle concern. Rashford’s registration after his mortgage from Manchester United has proved problematic, much like the monetary points that held up Dani Olmo’s participation final season.
Mallorca predicted beginning lineup
Greif; Morey, Lopez, Raillo, Lato; Sanchez, Costa, Torre, Darder; Muriqi, Joseph
Barcelona predicted beginning lineup
Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Araujo, Balde; de Jong, Pedri, Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Torres, Raphinha
