Barcelona v Real Mallorca
Football: Spain, Primera Division
Saturday, 3rd January 2008 - Kickoff 22:00

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Barcelona ( 1st - Home : 6-2-0 28:5 )

Barca now lead the Primera Liga by 10 points after 16 rounds of the championship and would like to keep that momentum going with the first game of 2009.

Barcelona have a cup game against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday to think about - and that just might mean a slightly weaker choice for Saturday - and that is reflected in the team news.

Barcelona Team News :
Barcelona will have to deal with the absence of Lionel Messi. The Argentina forward was one of several foreign players given an extended break by coach Pep Guardiola to travel home to see relatives, and is expected to rejoin the club this weekend.

Defender Gerard Pique is also doubtful.

Better news is that Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o will likely play after forgoing the extra three days of holiday and showing up for practice on Tuesday. Eto'o is the league's top scorer with 15 goals after 17 rounds.

And Barca Guardiola will also be boosted by the return to fitness of Andres Iniesta, who picked up a thigh injury at the beginning of November. He has returned to full fitness over the winter break and will make his comeback exactly two months after picking up his injury.

Real Mallorca ( 17th - Away : 1-1-6 4:18 )

Coach Gregorio Manzano believes now may be the best time to face Barcelona because of the winter break causing a halt to Barca's flowing style of football.

Mallorca Team News :
There may be a debut start for goalkeeper Dudu Aouate, who has just signed from Deportivo La Coruna as cover for the injured Miguel Angel Moya.

Head to Head

Barcelona have been dominant but not unbeatable against Mallorca at the Nou Camp, winning 4 of the last six games played here.

But Mallorca have surprised with two victories, winning 3-2 last season (at odds of 7.00) and also winning back in 2003.

Surprisingly, the reverse fixture in Malorca has been one-way traffic, with Barcelona winning each of the last six games by a margin of at least 2+ goals.

THE VERDICT

Barcelona went into the Christmas break with great momentum - and I expect that they'll make sure that it did not all disappear with Christmas dinner.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Barcelona 3-0 Mallorca

PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE :

Barcelona 76% - Draw 12% - Mallorca 12%

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I expect BARCELONA to win this game, but the price is only useful in a "fun" acca bet.