RCD Mallorca and RC Celta face each other this Saturday (5:00 p.m.) at Mallorca Son Moix in the second round of LaLiga EA Sports, with the aim of starting to add points after the defeats they both suffered at home in the first round against FC Barcelona and Getafe CF, respectively.
Jagoba Arrasate's team returns to play at home after the 3-0 defeat to the reigning champions in a match in which the Balearic team finished with nine players, following the expulsions of Manu Morlanes and Vedat Muriqi. For this second matchday, therefore, the Basque coach will have to find solutions, especially up front, as Cyle Larin is about to leave; everything points to the possibility of the Spanish player Mateo Joseph, a U-21 international who made his debut last week.
In midfield, the changes will likely involve moving Sergi Darder further back to replace the suspended Morlanes, especially with Samú Costa out due to injury, although Dani Rodríguez could also be included. In the center of defense, the Vermillion team will now be able to field Albanian Marash Kumbulla, who was registered this Friday after being announced on Monday as a new Vermillion player on loan from Roma.
However, Arrasate has the players to play either with a four-man defense, as he did last week, or with three center-backs, which he also used in many matches last season, so the final game plan will determine the home team's formation.
The opponent will be Claudio Giráldez's Celta, who were surprised at ABANCA Balaídos last Sunday by the good performance of José Bordalás' Getafe (0-2), who collapsed the Vigo team's attack and ended up winning the match thanks to a superb Christantus Uche, who scored and assisted. This defeat was not in the plans of the Vigo team, who last season were the fifth best team at home, only behind the top four in the table.
For this second matchday, the Galician team is looking to change its face and start earning points, so as to maintain its competitive edge from the start against the other teams that will be fighting for European spots at the end of the season. The Porriño-born coach will have the same players at his disposal as in the first match, with only center back Carl Starfelt missing. It is expected that there may be changes to the starting eleven.
It has not been ruled out that two of this summer's signings could be included in the starting lineup: winger Bryan Zaragoza and striker Borja Iglesias—who is currently owned by the Vigo club after playing on loan in 2024-25—although Giráldez will have to decide whether to pair him with the other summer signing, Ferran Jutglà, or start with just one striker, accompanied by Iago Aspas. Furthermore, the midfield and defense could also undergo changes with the introduction of Hugo Sotelo or Carlos Domínguez.
Precedents favor Giráldez's team, who won both matches against Arrasate's team last season (2-0 in Vigo and 1-2 in Mallorca), and have not lost at the Son Moix stadium since January 20, 2023, more than two and a half years ago.
–SATURDAY TIMES ON LALIGA EA SPORTS.
RCD Mallorca – RC Celta. Guzmán Mansilla (C. Andaluz) 5:00 PM.
Atlético de Madrid – Elche. Soto Grado (C. Riojano) 7:30 p.m.
Levante UD – FC Barcelona. Hernández Hernández (C. Las Palmas) 9:30 p.m.
