REAL Mallorca manager Gregorio Manzano could today condemn his former side to relegation when the Islanders host bottom of the league Rayo Vallecano.
As fate would have it Manzano, who saved Rayo from relegation last season and is widely regarded as a hero to the Madrid club's fans, is now in the position to send his old club down. If Mallorca defeat Rayo the club will automatically go down.
Even if they win Rayo will face the drop if fellow strugglers Osasuna take a point from their visit to Valladolid.
Earlier in the week Manzano said he did not want to be held responsible for relegating Rayo but it is doubtful there will be any collusion between the two teams seeing as Mallorca still have a realistic chance of making Europe.
We must make sure we get all three points on Sunday and wait to see what happens to our rivals for a UEFA Cup place, said Manzano yesterday.
We have to keep our options for a place in Europe open until the end of the season." With the UEFA Cup place still within grasp Manzano has declined from resting key players for the Copa del Rey final on June 28.
He will however be without Colombian international Harold Lozano, who is suspended after last week's red card against Sevilla, while left-back Poli returns from suspension. Mallorca, who have lost just twice in 11 matches, will be hoping Ariel Ibagaza is fit to face Rayo. The Argentine midfielder, linked to Atletico Madrid in the media this week, suffered a knee injury that kept him out of last week's 3-1 defeat to Sevilla. Rayo, for their part, will be without the suspended duo of Azkoitia and Onopko, while Mami Quevedo and Julio Alvarez have been left on the mainland for technical reasons.
MALLORCA
Leo Franco; Cortés, Lussenhoff, Nadal, Poli; Novo, Marcos, Ibagaza, Riera; Pandiani, Eto'o.
RAYO VALLECANO
Segura; Graff, Maínz, Corino, Mauro; Iriney, Pablo Sanz; Dorado, Michel, Peragón; Bolo.
No comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
Currently there are no comments.