This weekend, Mallorca will face Atletico Madrid in La Liga’s Round 5. Mallorca, struggling with poor form, will look to recover, while Atletico Madrid is determined to regain momentum after a disappointing European defeat.
Current Form
Mallorca’s start to the 2025/26 La Liga season has been underwhelming. With just one point from four games, they sit at 19th on the table. A heavy 0-3 loss to Barcelona and two back-to-back defeats have left the team with a bleak outlook.
For Mallorca, overcoming Atletico Madrid will be crucial to restore confidence and climb up the standings. Links bóng đá hôm nay trực tiếp xoilac
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid also faces its own challenges after a slow start to the season. With only five points from four matches, they are placed 11th. Their recent 2-3 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League has intensified the pressure. However, Atletico boasts a strong squad and will be aiming for a vital win to stay in the race for the top spots.
Head-to-Head
Atletico Madrid holds a commanding record over Mallorca in recent meetings. In the last five encounters between the sides, Atletico has won every single one, showing impressive dominance. Mallorca will need a strong effort to break this pattern and secure their first point in several years against Diego Simeone’s team, Livescore.
Squad News
Mallorca
The home side could be without key players such as Javi Llabres and Marash Kumbulla, both of whom are facing fitness issues. However, Vedat Muriqi is in fine form, having scored in his last two appearances and will be a focal point for Mallorca in this match.
Atletico Madrid
Atletico has injury concerns too. Alex Baena, Jose Gimenez, and Thiago Almada are all confirmed to miss out due to injury. Meanwhile, Johnny Cardoso and Julian Alvarez are also struggling with fitness, leaving Simeone to adjust his starting lineup.
Projected Lineups
Mallorca (4-3-3): Roman; Maffeo, Valjent, Raillo, Mojica; Darder, Morlanes, Costa, Torre; Muriqi, Joseph
Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Hancko; Simeone, Koke, Barrios, Gonzalez; Griezmann, Sorloth
Key Players to Watch
Vedat Muriqi: The Kosovo international is Mallorca’s primary attacking threat, with his excellent goal-scoring record making him a constant danger. If he maintains his form, Muriqi could prove to be a major challenge for Atletico’s defense.
Antoine Griezmann: Atletico’s creative spark and one of their most influential players. Griezmann will play a key role in guiding the attack, with his vision and playmaking ability crucial to Atletico’s success.
Tactics and Key Battles
Tactical Setup
Atletico Madrid is likely to maintain their usual 4-4-2 formation, which has served them well in recent games. Mallorca, on the other hand, could employ a 4-3-3 setup, focusing on width and leveraging Muriqi as the central point in attack. Mallorca will need to exploit Atletico’s defensive absences, particularly in central defense, to find gaps in their backline.
Key Areas to Watch
The midfield battle will be critical, with Atletico’s Koke and Barrios tasked with neutralizing Mallorca’s Darder and Morlanes. In defense, Atletico’s Llorente and Le Normand must stay alert to Mallorca’s wide players, Torre and Costa, who will look to create space and deliver dangerous crosses into the box.
Verdict
Atletico Madrid is the stronger side on paper, boasting more quality and depth. However, Mallorca will pose a challenge if they can exploit the gaps in Atletico’s defense. While the match is expected to be a tense one, Atletico’s superior squad and the creativity of Griezmann should be enough to secure a win for the visitors.
