Last season under former coach Gregorio Manzano, Real Mallorca finished fifth but were disqualified from playing in the Europa League by UEFA on financial grounds. However, despite selling key players in the summer, the Balearic Island club have continued to impress in the Spanish Primera Division this season too.
At the moment Michael Laudrup’s team are 11th in the league standings with 11 points from eight matches. A victory over Levante on Monday evening would see los Bermellones go level on points with Atletico Madrid and Sevilla and just three points off a Champions League place.
Mallorca are in decent form too as they have picked up three wins and held Spanish champions Barcelona to a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou in their last five competitive matches. However, Laudrup has warned his side not to take potential relegation candidates Levante with ease.
"They are a team who have surprised everyone and we need to be very careful because they went to show they have a place in the Primera Division,” said the Dane. "The are a difficult opponent because they will come here to play on the counter-attack.''
Threatened With Relegation
At the start of the season Levante were a serious candidate to finish in the bottom three of the Primera Division and immediately return to the Segunda Liga. However, the Granotes have started picking up some form and are giving their all to maintain their top flight status.
At the moment the Valencia-based side are a point and a place above the relegation zone. However, after losing their opening three matches and conceding 10 goals in the process, they have lost just once in six games in all competitions, also holding Real Madrid to a goalless draw in the league.
Striker Christian Stuani has scored thrice in his last two matches against Espanyol and Xerez and is keen to add to his tally on Monday night too.
"I've taken advantage of the opportunity the coach has given me,” said the Uruguayan. “It wasn't the ideal start of the season for me because I came here without having done much training and it was hard work getting into condition, and then I had an injury.
“Now I've had some game time and scored three goals, which for me are very important. I'm very happy and I want to continue scoring.''
Prediction
Mallorca may have been a little more erratic in terms of their home form this season, but they are still good enough to pick up maximum points against Levante. The biggest problem the home side will have will be making the initial breakthrough, but if they register first there should be few big worries. Levante have only been shut out once, but equally they’ve only managed to score more than one goal on one occasion this season.
Mallorca 2-1 Levante 
