RCD Mallorca face one of their toughest tests of the season this Saturday with a trip to the Ipurua Municipal Stadium to take on second-placed Eibar. The match, corresponding to the tenth round of the Segunda División, comes on the back of a convincing 3-1 home win over Las Palmas last weekend, a result that keeps the Balearic side fourth in the standings with 17 points.
Javier Aguirre's squad arrives in high spirits after a solid start to the campaign, with five wins, two draws, and two losses from nine games. Their attack, led by Abdón Prats with five goals in nine appearances, has shown its edge, scoring 11 times while conceding only four-the best defensive record among the top sides. However, the challenge at Ipurua is of a different magnitude. Eibar, on 19 points, are coming off a surprising away defeat to Real Oviedo (1-3), but their prior run of four consecutive victories makes them a formidable opponent on their own turf.
Setting the scene
The victory over Las Palmas demonstrated the team's ability to react. After a hesitant start, goals from Torre, Antonio Sánchez, and, crucially, the clincher from Abdón Prats, sealed a hard-fought comeback. This Saturday, defensive work will be key to neutralising an Eibar forward line featuring Jon Bautista and Jon Guruzeta. Aguirre is expected to keep the core of the lineup that worked, with goalkeeper Álvaro Fernández between the posts and the central defensive pairing of Valjent and Raillo.
For their part, Eibar, managed by José Luis Mendilibar, will look to bounce back quickly from their last stumble. Their usual 4-2-3-1 setup, with Jon Mikel in goal and the experience of Juan Bernat and Anaitz Arbilla in defence, aims to recover the solidity that has taken them to the top. The midfield, with players like Ander Madariaga and Aleix Garrido, will try to control the tempo from the outset.
The battle for promotion places
This direct clash gains extra dimension in the fight for the promotion spots. Mallorca, four points behind leaders Almería, have the chance to close the gap and, at the same time, overtake their immediate rival. A win at Ipurua would provide a massive morale boost and solidify the team as a serious contender. The next stop on the fixtures list after this challenge is the match against Racing de Ferrol at Son Moix, so a positive result here would be the best fuel for the next phase.
The match is scheduled for Saturday, 17 October at 16:15 local time. With both squads needing points for their respective objectives, the duel in the compact and vibrant Ipurua promises to be a clash of maximum intensity from the first whistle.
