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Real Madrid will look to start 2024 with a win when they host Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabéu in La Liga on Wednesday.
Los Blancos sit in top spot alongside surprise package Girona, while the visitors start the new year in 14th place. Despite the string of injuries, Real Madrid are chasing their 36th La Liga title, having won just 14, drawn 3 and lost 1 in 18 La Liga games this season.
These results, along with the best record in the Champions League groups, have awarded Carlo Ancelotti a contract extension, which will keep him at the club until June 2026, when talks over the Brazilian manager and his position are completed.
In Real Madrid’s final game of 2023 against Alavés, Ancelotti was in fine form as his side faced Nacho with a red card to secure the three points heading into injury time and Lucas Vasquezán.
The narrow win not only extended the clean sheet to 17 games in all competitions (14 wins, 3 draws), but also kept nine clean sheets of the League season, one more than the other teams in the division.
After negotiating a tricky game before the short break, Los Blancos ring in the New Year at the Santiago Bernabéu, where they have won 10 of their 11 league games this season, including five at home. Mallorca will be hoping to pick up where they left off in 2023 after finishing the season on a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions (W3 D3).
Javier Aguirreand’s side began their unbeaten run with wins over Cádiz and Alavés before moving on to fourth-placed Valle Aguez in the second round of the Copa Del Rey. They powered Sevilla to their first league title since September, drew with Almeria and had an entertaining 3-2 win at Osasuna thanks to goals from Matja Nastasic, Dani Rodríguez and Antonio Railo. This season is over.
As a result of their resurgence, Mallorca are now five points clear of the relegation zone, boosting their hopes of extending their top-flight run to a fourth season. Mallorca will remember their 1-0 win at home to Real Madrid last February, but will struggle to repeat that result on Wednesday as they have lost each of their previous games against Los Blancos. After recording a 3-1 win in May 2009.
Real Madrid is without the third injured Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba and Eder Militao, while Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga are expected to play soon. Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior return to the squad after recovering from injury problems, but the latter are likely to feature as substitutes, and Ancelotti is wary of the Brazilian. Arda Güler has been plagued by injuries during the six months of his Real Madrid career but is stepping up to the plate as he prepares to make his long-awaited debut. With Nacho serving a one-match ban, Ancelotti is expected to use Aurelien Chouameni at center back alongside Antonio Rudiger.
Mallorca could not count on the services of defender Martin Walzent and striker Veda Muriki. While Jaume Costa is suspended for picking up a yellow card, Tony Rato returns to the side after recovering from an injury that kept him out of the last two matches. Former Real Madrid player Omar Mascarel missed the win against Osasuna through injury, but will return to Mallorca’s midfield in time.
