Mallorca are a Segunda División side punching above their weight, and their recent friendly against Elversberg tells you everything about the level they're operating at right now. A 1-1 draw with a German second-tier outfit is not the kind of result that strikes fear into a La Liga heavyweight. The islanders will be organised, compact, and stubborn — that's their DNA under any coach — but there's a ceiling to what they can do with the ball. They'll sit in, absorb pressure, and hope to nick something from a set piece or a moment of individual quality. That's not a recipe for beating a side like Real Sociedad.

Real Sociedad, meanwhile, are a top-flight side with a clear tactical identity and a squad full of players who've been there and done it at the highest level. They've got the quality to dominate possession, the runners to exploit space in behind, and the defensive solidity to keep Mallorca at arm's length. Even if they're not at their absolute best, they have the individual talent to unlock a low block. The gap in class between these two sides is significant, and it should show over ninety minutes.