La Liga Preview: Real Mallorca - Athletic Bilbao

“We cannot spend another day without a win.” This is the frame of mind in the Athletic dressing room as described by Rojiblanco captain Joseba Etxeberría. Preparing to travel to the tricky Ono Estadi in Mallorca, Los Leones are faced with having just managed one victory in the 2008 La Liga campaign and, with a paltry 5 points, hover one point from the league basement. Unable to earn a single point in their last five La Liga encounters, there is a pressing sense of urgency to reverse this dismal standing.

At the midweek training, this newfound determination was on display as the Athletic players convened for an after-training team meal that excluded the coaching staff, medical staff, and other club officials. “This is an opportunity that presents itself to us and the team has to be convinced that it will measure up and that it will win”, the forward reported. “For us, this match is a final.”

The concern for an improvement has permeated all levels of the Basque club and the pressure for a win seems to be rising as club president Fernando García Macua met with coach Joaquín Caparrós on Friday. Despite this, Etxeberría dismissed the notion that Caparrós’ job is in jeopardy, assuring that the Andalusian trainer was performing admirably and that he has “100% confidence of his players”.

Not All Sunny

While the weather for Sunday’s match bodes well for a balmy and bright day on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca, the skies at the Palma club are not without clouds. Gregorio Manzano’s team has been erratic, with impressive performances one week and disappointing lapses in the next.

Hoping for a return to the form displayed in the islanders’ hard fought win against Espanyol at the Ono Estadi two matchdays ago, Manzano will look to execute a game plan in which his team will focus on the opponent’s goal and has demanded that his side to come out very solid in defence - compact, and efficient.

On a more personal note, with a win against Athletic this Sunday, Manzano stands to pull even with Mallorca coaching icon Llorenç Serra Ferrer as the winningest coach in Real Club Deportivo Mallorca’s 92-year history with 52 wins. While Manzano did not want to call too much attention to this milestone, he admits that it would be an important personal title for him. However, he hopes the feat is just a one part of a longer tenure at Mallorca, adding, “I hope it will start becoming 54, 55, et cetera.”


FORM GUIDE

Mallorca

01/11/2008 Liga Atlético-Mallorca 2-0

29/10/2008 Copa Málaga-Mallorca 1-1

26/10/2008 Liga Mallorca-Espanyol 3-0

19/10/2008 Liga Betis-Mallorca 3-0

05/10/2008 Liga Mallorca-Sporting 0-2

Athletic Bilbao

01/11/2008 Liga Athletic-Villarreal 1-4

29/10/2008 Copa Athletic-Recreativo 2-0

26/10/2008 Liga R. Madrid-Athletic 3-2

19/10/2008 Liga Athletic-Barcelona 0-1

05/10/2008 Liga Sevilla-Athletic 4-0


TEAM NEWS

Mallorca

The saga of interest for the Mallorquín the past week has been the struggle of goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moyà to recover from injury which saw him substituted in Mallorca’s rendezvous with Atlético de Madrid last week at the Vicente Calderón. Former River Plate goalkeeper Germán Darío Lux will get the start in his place and the Argentine will look to impress in his first La Liga appearance of this campaign. Defender José Miguel González - Josemi - has successfully shaken off a knock and should be available to start the match.


Red-and-White confident in Thornton
La Liga Weekend Preview: Round 9
Movsisyan shows flair for dramatic finishes