Atletico Madrid will head to the Balearic Islands on Sunday afternoon to take on 2024/25 overachievers RCD Mallorca in La Liga, hoping to win their fourth game in a row across all competitions.
Diego Simeone’s side has struggled to challenge the established order over the last decade, and this season is no different as they sit third in the table, four points behind arch-nemesis and capital rivals Real Madrid.
Hansi Flick’s rejuvenated Barcelona side may already be running away with the title, but Atletico have Madrid firmly in their sight, and a win on Sunday would reduce the gap to one point.
They’re coming up against a side that are in decent form and sit eighth in the La Liga rankings after collecting 18 points from their first 12 games of the campaign.
However, the Rojiblancos fans will want to see their side continue their recent hot streak after purchasing matchday tickets from Seatsnet.com at decent prices.
Match Preview
Mallorca have enjoyed a solid start to their La Liga season, but they’ll face a challenging test this weekend, coming up against a side five points ahead and eager for more points to improve their standing.
Mallorca have struggled in the final third, boasting just ten goals in 12 games – only relegation-threatened Real Valladolid (9), Valencia (8), and Getafe (8) netting fewer goals than Jagoba Arrasate’s side.
However, their seemingly impenetrable wall down the other end of the field has played a defining role in their unlikely push for a continental spot, shipping in just nine goals.
That accounts for the second-best defence in the division, with only Sunday’s visitors boasting a better record, having conceded a mere seven goals.
Despite their strong defence and decent start to the season, recent results have been mixed, with only one win from their last four league outings (D1, L2).
A 1-0 defeat to Alaves followed a goalless draw with Athletic Bilbao, where their struggles in the final third were on full display.
However, Mallorca’s home form has been solid. They’ve lost just one of their six games on home turf (W2, D3), with that defeat coming against Villarreal.
Their home form also includes a 1-1 draw with reigning La Liga and European champions Madrid, but they haven’t managed to keep Atletico out in their last three meetings.
Mallorca have suffered defeat in their last three matches against Atletico, with the corresponding match last term ending in a 1-0 success for Simeone’s side.
However, they’ll look to draw inspiration from their successful run in 2021/2022, when they beat the Red and Whites three times on the spin between December 2021 and November 2022.
Atletico will head into Sunday’s match on a high after their crucial 2-1 Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in France.
Their hard-fought win was just their second in the European campaign so far, but it bumped them up into 23rd place in the Champions League standings, providing a much-needed boost to their confidence.
The win over PSG was also part of a three-game winning streak for Simeone’s side.
They swatted aside sixth-tier outfit Vic in the Copa del Rey before overcoming Las Palmas in La Liga following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Real Betis on October 27.
Like Mallorca, Atletico have also struggled to light up La Liga this season, although they have a better record in the final third than Sunday’s hosts.
Los Colchoneros have only scored 18 times in the league – the worst record of any side in the top four by a mile.
However, their defensive record could be a game-changer for them this weekend, although they’re coming up against a side that has also given away little this season.
After a fourth-place finish last season, Simeone’s men have room to improve, and they’re keen to reclaim their customary third-place slot behind Barcelona and Madrid, which they lost to Girona last term.
Players to watch: A battle between two experienced playmakers
Atletico spent a fortune to revamp their forward line last summer, snapping up Alexander Sorloth from Villarreal and Julian Alvarez from Manchester City.
They also bolstered the middle of the park, adding the energetic Conor Gallagher from Chelsea, but Antoine Griezmann remains the heart and soul of Simeone’s team.
The France international’s contributions to the club have been remarkable and unwavering, with 16 league goals last season and 16 assists the year before, proving just how effective he is as a goalscorer and a playmaker.
He is yet to reach the high standards he set himself so far this season, possibly because he’s trying to build new on-field connections with the latest arrivals.
However, he still proved his value with a clutch assist in the last-minute win against PSG on Wednesday, which will likely boost his confidence and set the tone for the coming games.
Meanwhile, Mallorca have a talisman of their own in 36-year-old Dani Rodriguez, who continues to defy age with his performances this season. The veteran midfielder has been nothing short of impressive, tallying three assists and two goals in nine league appearances.
His experience and finesse remain crucial to Mallorca’s play, allowing him to influence games with composure and skill.
Team News
Mallorca will be without three key players for their upcoming clash on Sunday, as Valery Fernandez, Ivan Cuellar, and Takuma Asano are ruled out.
However, there’s a silver lining with Samu Costa returning from suspension, and he’ll be buzzing to add a fresh dynamic to the starting line-up.
Head coach Arrasate is likely to make a few adjustments from the squad that narrowly lost to Alaves, aiming to inject more energy and experience into the team.
Expect the influential Vedat Muriqi, Sergi Darder, Johan Mojica, and Dominik Greif to rejoin the line-up, while Cyle Larin seems set to retain his spot in attack as Mallorca looks to rediscover their scoring touch.
For Atletico, Thomas Lemar, Marcos Llorente, Robin Le Normand, and Cesar Azpilicueta are once again sidelined.
Simeone’s squad remains largely unchanged since their midweek Champions League fixture against PSG, with no new injury setbacks reported.
Sorloth has struggled to find his best form, with just four goals in 16 matches, and will likely continue as a substitute. That leaves Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann to lead the charge up front.
Midfielder Rodrigo Riquelme could earn a starting role, while team captain Koke is also pushing for a spot in the line-up.
Mallorca Potential Starting Line-up:
(4-4-2): Dominik Greif; Pablo Maffeo, Martin Valjent, Antonio Raillo, Johan Mojica; Robert Navarro, Manu Morlanes, Dani Rodriguez, Sergi Darder; Vedat Muriqi, Cyle Larin.
Atletico Madrid Potential Starting Line-up:
(4-4-2): Jan Oblak; Nahuel Molina, Jose Maria Gimenez, Clement Lenglet, Javi Galan; Rodrigo Riquelme, Rodrigo De Paul, Koke, Conor Gallagher; Julian Alvarez, Antoine Griezmann.
