Mallorca vs Athletic Prediction 17 January 2026
🔊 Can the "Islanders" pull away from the relegation zone? This coming Saturday, the Iberostar Stadium will host a showdown between Mallorca and Athletic. Both clubs are in crisis, performing below preseason expectations. Jagoba Arrasate's side sits just 1 point above the relegation zone, while the "Basques" trail the top six by 5 points. However, this only heightens the intrigue of their head-to-head clash. Despite being on the road and not in the best form, bookmakers give a slight edge to Ernesto Valverde's squad.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the last 10 head-to-head encounters, the outcomes show 1 victory for Mallorca, 6 draws, and 3 wins for Athletic. Let's also consider the average scoring rate for each side over a similar stretch: the "Islanders" average 0.7 goals, while the "Basques" average 1.3. Notably, at the "Iberostar," the Basque side consistently struggles, failing to secure a win in their last 5 visits (4 draws and 1 defeat). Their last away victory dates back to the 2012/13 La Liga season (1-0).
Head-to-head statistics Mallorca - Athletic
Mallorca Team Overview
🔴 Mallorca have gone four consecutive matches across all competitions without a win. Their exit from the Copa del Rey at the Round of 32 particularly disappointed their fans. In the national league, the "islanders" find themselves in 17th place on the table, having accumulated 18 points from 19 games. However, at their home ground, Jagoba Arrasate's side have been more convincing, suffering just two defeats in nine matches (a 0-3 loss to Barcelona and a 1-2 defeat to Girona). Additionally, their average statistics show 1.11 goals scored per game while conceding 1.47.
⚫ In their last league outing, Mallorca fell short against Rayo Vallecano (1-2). Arrasate's squad was outperformed in several key statistical areas. Their struggle to transition from defense to attack was particularly evident during the match at "Campo de Vallecas." The expected goals ratio stood at 2.36 to 0.72, reflecting the fairness of the result. The Spanish tactician prefers a deep defensive setup with a focus on exploiting counter-attacking opportunities. Vedat Muriqi has been the main offensive force for the "Vermilion" this season, boasting a record of 11 goals in 18 La Liga appearances, making him the second-highest scorer in the league.
Match Results: Mallorca
Athletic Bilbao Team Overview
🔴 This season, Athletic have plunged into a deep crisis. It's not just about bad luck-sometimes the performances of the "Basques" leave their own fans bewildered. Their dismal attacking play, averaging just 0.89 goals per game (16th in the league), and their inability to effectively execute positional attacks stand out as key reasons for their frequent point losses. In their last five La Liga matches, Athletic have secured only one victory-against Atletico Madrid (1-0). Currently, Ernesto Valverde's squad find themselves in 8th place in the standings, amassing 24 points from 19 games.
⚪ A major blow to Athletic's pride was their defeat in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Barcelona (0-5). The result was painful, as was the realization that the current Athletic side cannot compete for European spots or challenge the giants of Spanish football. Ernesto Valverde is not known for his flexibility-his preferred formation is 4-2-3-1. His belief in this tactical setup drives the Athletic manager. This week, the "Lions" barely scraped through to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals with a win over Cultural Leonesa (4-3 after extra time). Even against a Segunda División side, the team from Bilbao did not shine with their quality of football.
Match Results: Athletic Bilbao
Latest news
Mallorca
📰 Recently, Mallorca's key player, Portuguese midfielder Samu Costa, spoke with journalists: "I think things are going well for me. I'm also contributing in areas where I wasn't involved last year or in my first year, specifically scoring goals and being in the starting lineup more frequently. This is something I've worked on in training, and I feel really good about it and want to continue contributing in this way. The new role on the field has come to me naturally. I mean, I didn't specifically work on starting to score goals; sometimes it's just a small mental or tactical shift that makes a big difference." In the current La Liga season, Samu Costa has netted 3 goals in 16 matches.
❌ Due to an accumulation of yellow cards, Pablo Maffeo will be unavailable for selection.
Athletic Bilbao
🎤 After a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, Ernesto Valverde had to face the press with embarrassment: "This was one of our worst matches in a long time. It was really bad for us. We started well, but after their first goal, we just struggled. Against teams like this, if you let your guard down, they will make a mockery of you because they show no mercy. It was painful. We are a team that usually rises to the challenge, but today that wasn't the case. This is something that doesn't usually happen to us, and now we have to deal with this situation. You can lose in many ways, but when you're down 4-0 at halftime, it means you've done something wrong."
❌ Among Athletic's unavailable players are Mikel Vesga (back injury), Marouane Sannadi (knee injury), Benat Prados (knee injury), Unai Eguiluz (knee injury), Alejandro Berenguer (leg injury).
⚽ Goal Prediction
It's worth noting that head-to-head clashes between these teams rarely result in a flurry of goals. In 6 out of the last 8 encounters, there have been no more than 2 goals scored. Additionally, let's consider each team's average scoring rate this season: Mallorca at 1.1 and Athletic at 0.9. Therefore, a reasonable betting option would be under 2.5 goals.
🚩 Corner Prediction
In 6 of Athletic's last 7 matches, there have been no more than 10 corner kicks. A similar trend is observed in 5 of the last 6 meetings between the "Islanders" and the "Basques." Looking at the average number of corners earned by each team in the current La Liga season: Mallorca at 3.4 and Athletic at 5.6. Our editorial choice is under 9.5 corners.
Editorial Prediction
We are set for a clash between two struggling teams desperately in need of points. It's telling that the main issue for both Mallorca and Athletic is their lackluster performance in the attacking third. While the "Islanders" rely heavily on a single player, Vedat Muriqi, the "Basques" lack balance and do not excel in cohesive playmaking. Our editorial team does not anticipate a goal-fest and suggests a final score of 0-1. The key bet is under 2.5 goals.
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Betting Tips: Mallorca - Athletic Bilbao
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Comparison of Teams Stats
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