Elche – Mallorca: Prediction and Match Preview

March 21, 2026. 15:00. Elche. "Martínez Valero".
La Liga 2025-26. 29th round

Elche – Mallorca

Where to watch: MEGOGO

Displayed: Joan Mojica, Ian Virgili (both – Mallorca)

Injured: Hector Fort – Ian Salas, Takuma Asano

Questionable: John Donald – Lucas Bergström, Maras Kumbulla, Javi Llabres

Elche

Eder Sarabia's team became one of the biggest surprises of the season in the first half, finishing the first round in a solid ninth place with a comfortable gap from the relegation zone. However, after the last round, Franchiverdes found themselves in this danger zone. They have not won a single game in the new calendar year, extending their unbeaten streak in La Liga to 11 matches, seven of which ended in defeat. However, the club's management continues to support the head coach for now, although this could change quickly if Elche does not win in the near future.

Three of the four unsuccessful matches during this difficult period have taken place at the Martínez Valero, where the hosts should have won at least twice. But against Sevilla (2-2), they squandered a two-goal lead, and in the match against Osasuna, they showed a dismal result and somehow failed to secure a much-needed 0-0 victory. Then, in their previous home match, Franchiverdes were content with a 2-2 draw with Espanyol, another team struggling to win this year. Elche have played their last two away games against top-four opponents. First came a 1-2 defeat at Villarreal, followed by a dismal 1-4 defeat in Madrid by Real Madrid last weekend.

Mallorca

Going into the previous round, the islanders were the third team in the relegation zone, joining familiar faces such as Levante and Oviedo. The Balearic Islands recently changed their head coach – Jacobo Arrasate was replaced by Martin Demichelis – and so far the changes seem to be working. The Argentine watched his first game from the stands: a home match against Real Sociedad. His new team suffered a narrow defeat to the Basques, Mallorca's fourth consecutive defeat overall and contributing to their drop into the relegation zone.

In Demichelis' debut on the touchline, the islanders came agonisingly close to an away win over Osasuna, but, as in the first round, they were unable to hold on to a two-goal lead at 2-2. Notably, the Balearic Islands conceded the first goal in response in the 89th minute. Pamplona equalised and almost immediately took the lead, but missed the chance. However, at their second attempt under the new coach, Mallorca finally got a win - a 2-1 home win over Espanyol, and it was revenge. The Catalans led after the break through Charles Pichel, but the goalscorer was sent off early in the second half for no apparent reason and the home side took advantage of the numerical advantage. Midway through the half, the Islanders equalised through a well-placed shot from Pablo Torre, which rebounded, before Samu Costa scored the winning goal in the 88th minute. These three points lifted Mallorca out of the relegation zone, overtaking not only Elche but also Alaves, although they could have gone back if they had made a mistake at the Martínez Valero stadium.

Elche v Mallorca: expected lineups

Elche – Mallorca: author's prediction

In the first round match, Mallorca, led by Jagoba Arrasate, comfortably defeated Elche 3-1 at home, and now the islanders hope to at least avoid defeat against this opponent in order to avoid being relegated. However, it is worth noting that the Balearic Islands have only won once away from Franchiverdes, and that was over 80 years ago in the lower Spanish division. In particular, in La Liga, four of the seven previous visits to Elche ended in defeats for Mallorca, three of which ended in draws. Overall, Eder Sarabia's team is rightly considered the favorite in this upcoming confrontation - if not now, then when, and if not them, then who else is in the fight for survival? Nevertheless, there is little confidence in the victory of the "Franchiverdes", and even less belief in the victory of the guests.