Atletico Madrid vs Mallorca

The Riyadh Air Metropolitano hosts an intriguing clash today, Sunday, January 25, 2026, as Atletico Madrid looks to maintain their formidable home record against a Mallorca side powered by one of the league's most clinical strikers. Kick-off is scheduled for 14:00 CET (13:00 GMT / 08:00 ET).

Atletico enters the weekend in 3rd place (41 points), level with Villarreal and looking to keep pace with the runaway leaders, Real Madrid. Mallorca sits in 14th place (21 points), having recently secured a massive morale-boosting win over Athletic Bilbao to distance themselves from the relegation zone.

Match Information

Atletico Madrid: Defensive Strength vs. Offensive Slumps

Diego Simeone’s side remains the only team in La Liga yet to taste defeat at home this season (9 wins, 1 draw). However, they arrive following a midweek 1–1 draw against Galatasaray in the Champions League and face a significant blow to their attacking rotation.

Team News and Selection:

• Griezmann Injury: In a major setback, Antoine Griezmann has been ruled out of today's match after picking up a thigh injury in Friday's training session.

• The "Álvarez" Drought: Julián Álvarez is currently enduring a seven-game goal drought, his longest since joining the club. Simeone has publicly backed the Argentine, emphasizing collective responsibility over individual stats.

• Reinforcements: Clément Lenglet has surprisingly returned to the squad following a six-week knee injury layoff, providing a massive boost to the defensive depth. Nahuel Molina is also available after missing midweek for personal reasons.

• Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Hancko, Pubill, Ruggeri; Simeone, Cardoso, Barrios, Almada; Sørloth, Álvarez.

Mallorca: Riding the Muriqi Wave

Jagoba Arrasate has transformed Mallorca into a stubborn outfit that is particularly dangerous on the break. They come into this fixture buoyed by a thrilling 3–2 win over Athletic Bilbao last week, where their talismanic striker reached a significant milestone.

Team News and Selection:

• Man in Form: Vedat Muriqi is the league's second-highest scorer with 14 goals this season. He arrives at the Metropolitano fresh from a hat-trick last weekend.

• Fitness Concerns: Arrasate is sweating on the fitness of three key starters: Manu Morlanes, Marash Kumbulla, and Toni Lato all face late fitness tests today.

• Away Struggles: Despite their home form, the "Pirates" have struggled on the road, winning only one of their last ten away matches in La Liga.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Román; Maffeo, Valjent, Raíllo, Mojica; Mascarell, Costa; Sánchez, Darder, Virgili; Muriqi.

? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• Historical Dominance: Atletico has won 33 of the 66 total meetings between these two clubs, compared to Mallorca's 18 wins.

• Recent Meeting: The reverse fixture in September 2025 ended in a 1–1 draw at Son Moix, with Conor Gallagher scoring for Atletico.

• The "Clean Sheet" King: Jan Oblak has recorded 8 shutouts this season (a 40% clean sheet rate), though Mallorca has scored in each of their last four matches.

• Corner Specialists: Atletico leads the league in corner kicks won (average of 6.8 per match), while Mallorca ranks in the top three for corners conceded.

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

With Griezmann out, Atletico will rely heavily on the physical presence of Alexander Sørloth and the creative spark of Thiago Almada. Simeone is expected to use a 4-4-2 that transitions into a 3-5-2 in possession, utilizing the tireless lungs of Marcos Llorente on the right flank to stretch Mallorca’s backline.

Mallorca’s strategy is no secret: sit deep, absorb pressure, and launch direct balls to Muriqi. Given Atletico’s recent inconsistency in front of goal and Mallorca’s defensive resilience, this could be a frustrating afternoon for the home fans. However, Atletico’s bench depth and "fortress" mentality at the Metropolitano usually find a way through.

Final Score Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1–0 Mallorca