Atletico Madrid vs. Mallorca | La Liga | Pre Match

Atletico Madrid will be aiming to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they welcome Mallorca to Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday evening.

Diego Simeone's side are second in the La Liga table, four points behind the leaders Real Madrid, while Mallorca occupy sixth position, one point ahead of seventh-placed Rayo Vallecano.

Atletico's 15-game winning run in all competitions came to an end on January 18, when they were beaten 1-0 by Leganes, but Simeone's team have won two and drawn one of their three matches since that setback.

The two successes have come in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen and Red Bull Salzburg, and they finished fifth in the Champions League table to secure their spot in the next round of the competition.

Atletico were held to a 1-1 draw by Villarreal in La Liga last weekend, with Samuel Lino cancelling out a penalty from Gerard Moreno, and the Red and Whites are firmly in the title picture at this stage of the campaign, sitting second, four points behind the leaders Real Madrid on the same number of matches (21).

Simeone's side have been excellent on home soil this season, picking up 27 points from 11 matches, remaining unbeaten in the process, and they will be hosting a Mallorca outfit that have lost five of their 10 games on their travels. The dominance Atletico has showcased at Wanda Metropolitano highlights their stronghold over visiting teams, with their defensive solidity complementing their potent attacking prowess. Their ability to grind out results even in tight encounters has made them a formidable force in La Liga this season, and they will be eager to maintain their impressive home form against a struggling Mallorca side.

Atletico are on a four-game winning run against Mallorca, including a 1-0 success in the reverse match earlier this season, while both league games during the 2023-24 campaign also finished 1-0 to the Red and Whites. This impressive head-to-head record gives Atletico a psychological edge going into the clash, knowing they have consistently managed to stifle Mallorca's attacking threats and find a way to breach their defensive setup.

Mallorca have a recent away success over Atletico to their name, triumphing 2-1 in Madrid in December 2021, but it has not been a happy start to 2025 for Jagoba Arrasate's side. The Pirates have found themselves on the wrong end of results in recent weeks, unable to gather momentum or string together consistent performances.

Indeed, the Pirates have been beaten in each of their four matches this year, losing to Pontevedra in the Copa del Rey before suffering a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. The failure to make an impact in crucial encounters has exposed their shortcomings, particularly in defensive organization and attacking sharpness.

Mallorca were then beaten 4-0 by Villarreal on January 20 before losing 1-0 at home to Real Betis last weekend, with their last success proving to be a 1-0 victory over Getafe on December 21. These struggles have raised concerns about their ability to maintain a top-six position and secure European football for next season.

Arrasate's team are still up in sixth position in the table, though, which would be enough to secure European football for next term. However, their precarious position means any further slip-ups could see them drop down the rankings, making their clash against Atletico all the more crucial.

Goals have been a real problem this season, only finding the back of the net on 19 occasions in 21 matches, which is the joint-third worst attacking record in the division, while they are only actually three points ahead of Sevilla in 12th, so a slide down the table could occur if their poor run continues in the coming weeks. The lack of a consistent goal-scoring threat has put immense pressure on their defense to keep them in games, something that has proven unsustainable against higher-caliber opposition.

Atletico will welcome Javi Galan back into their squad on Saturday following a suspension, but Rodrigo De Paul will be unavailable for selection due to a ban of his own. Galan's return is a significant boost for Simeone's defensive plans, adding depth and stability to their backline.

Clement Lenglet missed the draw with Villarreal last weekend through injury, but he is also available and set to start, with Jose Gimenez expected to be his centre-back partner for this clash. Gimenez's presence will be crucial in marshaling the defensive line against Mallorca's sporadic attacking surges.

Antoine Griezmann scored twice against Salzburg in the Champions League and is set to continue alongside Julian Alvarez in the final third of the field, while Nahuel Molina and Conor Gallagher are both expected to earn recalls for this La Liga affair. Griezmann has been in fine form, and his link-up play with Alvarez could prove decisive in breaking down Mallorca’s defensive resistance.

As for Mallorca, Ivan Cuellar will be back in the squad following a suspension, but Valery and Manu Morlanes remain unavailable for selection due to injury problems. Their absence further complicates Mallorca’s hopes of putting up a fight against Atletico.

The visitors will also be missing Omar Mascarell due to the red card that the midfielder picked up against Real Betis, so there could be a start for Antonio Sanchez. Mascarell’s suspension removes an important defensive shield from Mallorca’s midfield, leaving them vulnerable to Atletico’s relentless attacking waves.

Vedat Muriqi featured off the bench against Real Betis last time out, and he could find himself among the substitutes for the first whistle once again, with Cyle Larin likely to be given the nod through the middle. Larin’s ability to hold up play and bring others into the attack will be crucial for Mallorca if they hope to cause any trouble for Atletico’s well-drilled defensive unit.

As the two teams prepare for battle, Atletico’s superior firepower, home advantage, and dominant head-to-head record make them overwhelming favorites. Mallorca, on the other hand, must defy their recent slump and put in a disciplined performance to stand a chance of causing an upset. The stakes are high for both sides, with Atletico pushing for the title and Mallorca fighting to keep their European aspirations alive. The Wanda Metropolitano is set to witness an intriguing encounter between two teams with contrasting fortunes this season.