Mallorca vs Osasuna prediction: Osasuna to inflict mid-winter Mallorcan misery

A bottom-half battle sees two sides in identical form face off on Thursday night (KO, 20:30), as both Mallorca and Osasuna try and pull away from the relegation zone.

Home boss Javier Aguirre will be frustrated with the missed opportunities that leave his side just two points above the bottom three, having registered three draws against teams in the bottom six in their last five games, including a goalless draw at bottom of the table Almeria.

Meanwhile, Osasuna put an end to their run of six games without a win with a 95th minute winner from Raul against Rayo Vallecano, easing the pressure on long-term manager Jagoba Arrasate.

Team News

Los Piratas remain without defenders Toni Lato and Martin Valjent due to respective muscle and knee injuries, whilst Kosovan forward Vedat Muriqi is also sidelined.

Osasuna’s Colombian defender Johan Mojica remains out with the knee injury picked up against Real Sociedad, while winger Ruben Garcia went off against Rayo Vallecano last time out is unlikely to feature.

Match Odds

Home side Mallorca are 7/5 to claim the much-needed three points, with Osasuna 12/5 to spoil the party on the Balearic Island and take home all three points.

The two sides cancelling each other out can be backed at 15/8, with a score draw being priced at 18/5.

Osasuna to win to nil @ 18/5

Mallorca’s run-in to end the year had the potential to propel Aguirre’s side away from the relegation zone, with all of the final five league games before the winter break being played against bottom half sides.

However, despite not suffering defeat to any rivals, a sole 1-0 victory over a lacklustre Sevilla is not an end product that creates belief that they can get out of trouble.

Osasuna put an end to their drab run of form last time out and victory again for Los Rojillos would move the side to within a point of the top half. A late winner last season saw the away side win 3-2 in this fixture last season and, while form would indicate less goals this time around, another three points for the Pamplona side should be expected.

Ante Budimir to score anytime @ 12/5

If Osasuna are to come away from the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix with victory, then Croatian striker Ante Budimir is likely to play a part in it. The 32-year-old moved to Osasuna from Mallorca back in 2020 (initially on loan and then made permanent in 2021) and has since scored 35 La Liga goals for the club.

He is leading the line for Los Rojillos this year with eight goals, which is already the same number the Croat scored last season, with just over half a season still to play. Budimir has registered six more goals than the next highest contributor for Osasuna, so expect him to be the go-to man on Thursday.