Emergence of the New Offensive Trio at Mallorca

omidbasir- Jagoba Arrasate persistently called for a dynamic and vertical winger throughout the summer, ultimately securing Jan Virgili. Prior to this, Mateo Joseph joined the team amid speculation surrounding Cyle Larin’s departure. Currently, both players have become indispensable supports to the team’s offensive focal point, Vedat Muriqi.

The trio, dubbed MMJ (Muriqi, Mateo Joseph, Jan Virgili), made its debut on the afternoon of October 18 in Sevilla. Just five minutes after Jan Virgili assisted Muriqi in equalizing the score at 1-1, Mateo Joseph entered the pitch and sealed the match with a remarkable brace, leading to a final score of 1-3.

That day marked the beginning of Arrasate’s excitement over this newly discovered attacking combination. Due to Virgili’s late arrival at the end of the summer transfer window and his subsequent participation in the U-20 World Cup, the opportunity to field all three players together had been limited.

Since that victory, all three have been starters in the following three league matches, with Muriqi as the central striker, Jan Virgili positioned on the left wing, and Mateo Joseph effectively operating on the right flank, where he excels due to his strength and off-the-ball work. Despite a significant loss at La Cartuja, the team has made strides in offensive performance, highlighted by an impressive first half in their 10th match against Levante—despite ultimately trailing at halftime—and a practical win against Getafe.

While the statistics may not be particularly striking, the positive sentiments among fans of Mallorca are palpable. Supporters see in this trio a high-level offensive unit characterized by speed and imbalance on the flanks, accompanied by a striker who has already notched six goals this season.

This weekend, Mallorca will face La Cerámica. Although Arrasate has demonstrated flexibility in his tactical approach, it would be surprising to see a formation that accommodates three forwards without including what can now be considered his trusted trio.