Arrasate’s men began their attempt to get out of the dreadful run of form that has beguiled them since the beginning of 2025 with a winnable home game against Osasuna. The team from Pamplona were level with the islanders on points before the game, which was played at the Son Moix Stadium on Monday 10th February. There was an interesting backdrop to the game in that Jagoba Arrasate had been a successful coach at Osasuna for a number of years before joining Mallorca at the start of the season. They replaced him with former Mallorca coach Vicente Moreno who had worked wonders on the island as he oversaw promotion from the second tier of Spanish football. He was serving a one match touchline ban and watched the game in isolation in an executive box with the on screen cameras in the stadium panning on to him from time to time.
RCD Mallorca 1-1 Osasuna
Arrasate opted to leave non scoring striker Cyle Larin on the bench leaving Muriqi as the main striker. Muriqi has had a very disappointing season so far and his “goalden” touch seems to have disappeared. Winger Robert Navarro retained his place and in the first half he was the outstanding performer but the bar was not set very high in truth. Navarro delivered a defence splitting pass to Muriqi, but he mis-controlled the ball and the chance was lost. Last season he would have buried that. It was the only incident of note in 45 minutes! In the second half Asano was brought on and his pace led to Muriqi being brought down in the box. He stepped up and scored from the spot kick. At last a goal even though it was from the spot.
Mallorca retreated deeper and deeper to try and defend the slender lead. Inevitably in injury time Boyomo bundled home an equaliser. Greif made a fine save shortly afterwards which at least preserved a point. The crowd left in a very muted fashion.
Las Palmas 1-3 RCD Mallorca
The second instalment was an inter island derby against Las Palmas from Gran Canaria in the Son Moix on Sunday 16th February. It was a completely different performance than the one against Osasuna. Arrasate opted for a very attacking formation in the absence of the injured Samu Costa and Morlanes giving starts to wingers Takuma Osano and Navarro. The visitors gave Mallorca an early fright when Munoz had a shot which was brilliantly saved by the home keeper Greif in the second minute. From that moment on Mallorca produced a scintillating first half display with both wingers regularly stretching the visitors defence and Sergi Darder in his favoured position of central midfield pulling the strings. On seven minutes the evergreen Dani Rodriguez put in a perfect cross for Muriqi to plant a header into the net. The relief was palpable in both the fans and players. On 28 minutes Mohica crossed to the near post and Muriqi swept it in. Truthfully the Las Palmas keeper Cillessen should have done better in his attempt to save the shot. He could do nothing seven minutes later when Rodriguez hit home a perfect shot. Three nil at half time was an enjoyable experience after the recent results.
Inevitably Mallorca were a little less robust in the second half although Rodriguez blazed a shot over the bar and Muriqi hit the post with an effort which would have given him a hat trick. On 62 minutes Bajcetic spoiled the party by pouncing on a loose ball in the home sides area to score for Las Palmas. They huffed and puffed for a while but Mallorca saw the game out comfortably and moved into seventh place in La Liga. Muriqi was playing his 99th game for Mallorca and his goal tally now stands at 33. From the same number of games the legendary Samuel Etoo had scored 35 so he is in exalted company. Etoo went on to score 54 goals in total after 133 games before big money moves to various top flight European teams.
Sevilla 1-1 RCD Mallorca
Next up was another Monday night game away at Sevilla on the 24th February in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium. Arrasate sprung a surprise by naming a five man defence bringing in central defender Copete thus allowing fullbacks Maffeo and Johan Mojican to push much further forward. An even bigger surprise was that in form winger Robert Navarro was the player left out. The home side dominated the first half and Mallorca’s fullbacks were forced backward. The Andalucian team have a left winger Ruben Vargas who caused the Islanders no end of problems. Mallorca seemed to be heading to half time without conceding but two minutes into additional time saw Kike Salas bundle in the opener. Copete seemed to be fouled in the build up but VAR appears not to be a friend of the reds. Everything changed in the 67th minute when Navarro replaced Asano as the Japanese winger was not able to reproduce his display against Las Palmas. Immediately he beat a defender, lobbed the goalkeeper and agonisingly the ball hit the roof of the net. Minutes later he dragged a shot side with the keeper beaten. Sevilla dropped on to the back foot as Navarro continued to torment them. As the match entered additional time of 4 minutes Mallorca fans reflected on the fact that the team never seem to score late goals. The equaliser however came from the most unlikely source when central defender Martin Valjent thrashed home a goal in style after the home keeper Nyland (Norwegian) dropped a cross from, of course, Navarro. That was Valjen’s first goal for four years. An excellent point away from home has reignited thoughts of European qualification with the side in the upper echelons of La Liga. The players seemed to have recovered their confidence after a dismal January.
Mallorca are at home to Alaves on Sunday March the 2nd with a kick off time of 18.30. There should be a bumper crowd hoping to see the side continue their resurgence.