Real Sociedad vs Mallorca preview - Laudrup targets win with tough games ahead

Posted Monday, February 21, 2011 by PA

Real Mallorca coach Michael Laudrup has stressed the importance of the clash against Real Sociedad as his side look to put further distance between themselves and the relegation zone ahead of what promises to be a daunting run of fixtures next week.

Mallorca started the weekend level on 31 points with Sociedad after beating Athletic Bilbao on Monday night - the club's first win in five matches - and both teams were nine points ahead of the bottom three.

It looks a relatively healthy situation for Mallorca to be in, but with games against top six sides Barcelona, Espanyol and Valencia coming up in a seven-day spell next week, the Balearic Island outfit know they cannot afford to relax ahead of their trip to San Sebastian.

Laudrup said: "For me it's a very important game, it's not a final because it's not a definitive game, but it's important for various reasons.

"One because if we win we could increase the distance to those at the bottom, and also, although I always like to look at the most immediate game, nobody is blind and we can see that awaiting us after are games against Barcelona, Espanyol and Valencia, so to pick up points or win in San Sebastian could be very important for us."

Segunda Division champions Sociedad have enjoyed a good season on their return to the top flight, although there appears to be little middle ground for the Basque side in terms of results as they have drawn just one of their 23 games so far - and that tie came back in week two.

Sociedad's last six results have seen them alternate wins with defeats, with their latest match seeing them down Osasuna 1-0 thanks to a late strike from Raul Tamudo.

Laudrup said of Martin Lasarte's side: "They are a little the surprise of this season because the first year when you return to the Primera Division is very difficult. La Real are a team with a tradition in the Primera Division, but the change is big. They are having a very good season, though."

Sociedad, like Mallorca, are currently closer to the top six than they are the bottom three, but the Basque side's winger Antoine Griezmann admits their primary goal is still to avoid going back down.

"It's a dream to play in the Europa League, it excites me a lot, but the first objective is to stay up, to remain in the Primera next season. Then we can think about other things," he said.