Mallorca vs Real Betis preview - Calatayud vows to seize opportunity

Posted Saturday, February 04, 2012 by PA

Mallorca goalkeeper Juan Calatayud is ready to take his chance in the first team in place of the suspended Dudu Aouate this weekend.

Calatayud has found playing time hard to come by since signing from Hercules in the summer, but will start against Betis after Aouate's appeal against his harsh red card at Espanyol last time out was rejected.

He told Efe: "I am ready to play, like I have always said I am. I work every day to be useful for the team and perhaps one day start many matches with Mallorca."

Calatayud also recognises the importance of playing Betis with both sides amongst the pack of teams just above the relegation zone, but he also stressed that the players must not let themselves be burdened by the pressure.

"We are playing to win but we don't want to constantly have this added pressure," he said.

"The most important thing is to continue picking up points because if we do this we won't have any problem in obtaining our objective of staying in the league."

Fernando Tissione should regain his place in midfield after missing the Espanyol game through suspension and Marvin Ogunjimi could be handed a rare start up front after impressing as a substitute in that match.

Betis manager Pepe Mel also underlined the importance of three points for his side, but believes Mallorca are a harder team to beat under Joaquin Caparros than they were under Michael Laudrup when the two sides met earlier in the season.

He told the club's website: "With Laudrup they were very good on the ball but with Caparros they have gained an intensity and they work harder defensively."

Mel is also hoping his players have learned some lessons from their defeat at home to Granada last weekend.

"Defeats are never a good thing, but you have to make conclusions and extract the good from the bad," he said.

"The second half of the season is always tougher, you can't give other sides gifts and therefore February and March are two very important months for us."

Alex Martinez will fill in for the suspended Nacho at left-back for the visitors and there may be a debut for new signing Paulao in the central defence.