Winning away from home in the first game of the year has been a pending issue for the Majorcan players since 1997; then the vermilion beat Barcelona B, also in the second division, by 1 to 2 with goals from Carlos and Santaella for the islanders and from Mallorcan Carreras in their own goal for the Catalans, a match that was played at the Mini Estadi.
It was the 96-97 season, which ended with the promotion of Mallorca to the First Division, to live its best historical stage during 16 uninterrupted seasons among the greats of Spanish football with national titles and European participation included.
It has been 24 years since Mallorca did not win outside the island in the first game of the year and the objective is to do so this Sunday in Oviedo where Luis García Plaza's team already accumulates six casualties for the appointment: Cufré and Raíllo by suspension, Dani Rodríguez and Valjent due to injury, and the two players positive for coronavirus in recent days: Mboula and Cardona.
In the last three seasons, the Mallorcan team lost in their New Year's outings in Granada (1-0 in First division), in Almería (2-0, in Second division), and three years ago, in Second B, in Santa Eulalia against the Sports Club by 2 to 1.
The last victory in the opening of the year was in 2017 when they beat Mirandés 2-0 in a game played at home, but if it is about winning as a visitor, the last reference is the one mentioned against Barça B in 1997.