Almeria vs Mallorca preview - Laudrup wants to take momentum

Posted Sunday, May 15, 2011 by PA

Real Mallorca coach Michael Laudrup wants his side to build on their second-half display against Hercules in midweek as they take on Almeria looking to secure their Primera Division status.

Mallorca looked in some trouble as they trailed 2-0 to second-bottom Hercules at half-time in Wednesday's clash in Alicante, but the visitors fought back to claim a share of the points thanks to goals in the final 12 minutes from Victor and Pierre Webo.

That result consigned Hercules to relegation and helped lift Mallorca five points above the bottom three heading into the last two games of the season.

The first of those is against already-relegated Almeria and the Balearic Island club will be desperate to have their top-flight future guaranteed before their final game at home to Atletico.

Laudrup said: "The point that we got against Hercules is important because there is a big difference between having 43 and 44 points at this stage of the season.

"We need to go out to win Sunday's game, with the mentality of the second half in Alicante.

"There is tension, the same as in the other seven or so teams who are involved down there. We need to be calm because we've already shown that if we play with too much tension or anxiety it is difficult to play football.

"We know we depend on ourselves. We want to save ourselves and a victory would be phenomenal."

Almeria were already relegated before the game against Villarreal on Wednesday, but the Andalusians restored some pride as they held Juan Carlos Garrido's high-flyers to a goalless draw - ending a run of seven successive defeats.