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Ronald Koeman was the man chosen to rescue Valencia's season, following the sacking of Quique Sanchez Flores in the small hours of Monday morning. Flores' dismissal may have come as a surprise to some, with Valencia well-placed in La Liga at the time, just five points behind the leaders. In truth however, Los Ches' form had been woeful ever since the humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Villarreal back in August. Undeserved victories against the likes of Schalke, Recreativo and Getafe had merely papered over the cracks. All their inadequacies came to the fore in the space of five days, as Flores' side went down to Rosenborg and Sevilla in abject fashion.

If those defeats were spineless, a 5-1 home defeat against Real Madrid on Wednesday night was simply embarrassing. Stand-in coach Oscar Fenandez appeared to be so excited to be leading a side against 'Los Merengues', he forgot to come up with any tactics. The decision to use the livewire David Silva in a deep role was truly bizarre. With Fernando Morientes isolated upfront, Valencia were once-again unable to forge any meaningful attacks, and their porous defence allowed the visitors to notch four times in the first-half. Sadly for 'Ches fans, Fernandez will again be in the dugout for the trip to the Balearic Islands, as Koeman prepares to take charge for the must-win Champions League clash return against Rosenborg.

Gregor Manzano's Real Mallorca will be chomping at the bit, to inflict more misery upon Los Ches, in what is their first true test of the season. Manzano is doing a sterling job. So good in fact that the ex-Atletico boss was this week effectively offered a job for life. A 1-1 draw in Coruna midweek was a decent result considering goalkeeper Miguel Moya was dismissed in the first-half. While their away displays are showing definite signs of improvement, at San Moix 'Los Bermallones' are a match for anyone. The stats show that only two visiting sides have come away with maximum points since January. Valencia and Villarreal have both sneaked 1-0 victories in that time, however both massively rode their luck. Villarreal particularly, as the hosts had a perfectly good equaliser ruled out in stoppage-time. San Moix is something of a fortress, and the sheer desire of the team in front of their own supporters is staggering at times. Twice this season they have overcome two-goal deficits to win 4-2. The most recent occasion against Getafe was made all the remarkable by the fact that they exacted the comeback with only ten men. Against in-form Espanyol last week they were again, rather harshly, reduced to ten early in the game, but managed to fight back to take a well-deserved point. This side just don't know when they are beaten.

With David Villa once-again absent, Fernandez will have to rely on Morientes to lead the line. Flores' paid the price for entrusting the much-maligned Zigic and Arizmendi against Sevilla. Neither have looked up the job since their summer arrivals from Racing and Deportivo. In fact the whole spine of the team looks weak at present. Roberto Ayala hasn't been adequately replaced, whilst Spanish International Carlos Marchena is injured and Raul Albiol suspended. In midfield, Ruben Baraja and Manuel Fernandes' absences continue to leave a void.

Mallorca have no such problems and can welcome back tricky Argentinian winger Jonas from injury. The in-form pair of Daniel Guiza and Juan Arango will pose a significant threat upfront, whilst playmaker Ariel Ibagaza returns having been rested midweek. Argentinean goalkeeper German Lux will replace the suspended Moya, while David Navarro is not permitted to play against the club that own him. Not a pressing concern with Sergio Ballesteros back from suspension. Manzano's main worry has to be discipline. Or rather lack of it. Early red-cards have seriously compromised Mallorca's season so far, and it's testament to their fighting qualities that they find themselves in a healthy Eighth-placed position, having remained unbeaten in the month of October. If they can just avoid shooting themselves in the foot, three points are there for the taking against a Valencia side playing their worst football in years.

Recommendations: 8pts Mallorca @ 1.87 Draw No Bet. Bet 365. 0.5pt e/w Ariel Ibagaza to score first @ 14/1. Hills. (place terms are better than those with 16/1 Bet365) 0.25pt Valencia/Mallorca ht/ft @ 36. Betfair.

Ilunga