Mallorca vs. Atlético Madrid
Mallorca’s misery meets Atlético’s slump when the two disappointing teams face each other this Sunday. The hosts are in 19th place with just one point and are already fighting to stay in touch, while the Rojiblancos are in 11th place and, with five points, are well below their potential. Mallorca’s recent 3-2 defeat to Espanyol continued their negative run, even though Muriqi managed to equalize and Jagoba Arrasate’s team even had a man advantage. The return of Dani Rodríguez after his ten-day suspension could add an extra dimension to today’s game. Atlético lost a dramatic Champions League clash at Liverpool 3-2 just two days ago, with Marcos Llorente scoring twice before van Dijk’s late goal decided the game. Diego Simeone’s team will now have to do without the injured Giménez, Almada and Julián Alvarez. The head-to-head record speaks for itself: all five of the most recent encounters have gone to the Madrid side, most recently a 2-0 win in February, with these games usually turning out to be low-scoring affairs.
- Venue: Estadi Mallorca Son Moix, Palma de Mallorca
- Date and time: 21.09.2025, 4:15 p.m.
- Competition: Primera División (Matchday 5)
Mallorca form & record check
RCD Mallorca is stuck in a worrying losing streak. After four matchdays, the club is still waiting for its first win, sitting in 19th place in the table with just one point. The recent defeat against Espanyol once again highlighted the problems: Mallorca even led 2-0 in Barcelona after Vedat Muriqi scored from the penalty spot and with a header, but Pere Milla’s sending-off before half-time turned the game around. With a man advantage, Espanyol fought back to win. The statistics speak for themselves: In four of their last five games, Mallorca have been behind at half-time, with the team conceding goals in the first half in 80 percent of their recent matches. Similar patterns were seen against Real Madrid (1-2), Barcelona (0-3), and Espanyol. At least the offense around Muriqi, who already has three goals this season, is working. The Kosovar remains Mallorca’s most consistent factor and has proven his qualities as a goalscorer and header specialist. After his suspension, Dani Rodríguez returns to training, which could give the midfield additional options. Despite the increased salary cap of €60.91 million, the team lacks the necessary consistency. With a goal difference of minus five, a difficult season looms unless there is a quick improvement.
Mallorca are likely to line up in their usual 5-3-2 formation, which coach Arrasate has favored in previous games this season. Leo Román will probably be between the posts, while the defense could consist of Morey, Valjent, Raíllo, Kumbulla, and Mojica. In midfield, I expect Darder to be the playmaker, flanked by Morlanes and Torre, who should continue to get playing time. Up front, Muriqi is likely to start after his two goals against Espanyol, and Mateo Joseph could get another chance alongside him. The role of Dani Rodríguez, who has returned to training after his ten-day suspension, will be interesting to watch. It remains to be seen whether he will be back in the squad. The return of the experienced midfielder could open up further tactical options for Arrasate.
Atletico Form & Record Check
Atlético Madrid’s form is currently leaving something to be desired. After a 2-1 defeat at Espanyol in their opening game, they followed up with two sobering draws against Elche (1-1) and Alavés (1-1). It was only against Villarreal that they achieved their first full success in the league with a 2-1 home win, but the recent 3-2 defeat at Liverpool in the Champions League shows that Simeone’s team is still far from the desired consistency. With only five points from four league games and eleventh place in the table, Atlético is falling short of expectations. Interestingly, the Rojiblancos have scored in all five of their most recent games, which is certainly encouraging. Marcos Llorente was the bright spot against Liverpool with a brace. The defense, on the other hand, is a cause for concern, having conceded at least one goal in three of their last four games. The absence of Julián Alvarez weighs particularly heavily. The €100 million new signing is out with a muscle injury, making the offense look much less dangerous. Thiago Almada and José María Giménez are also out, further limiting Simeone’s options. Transfer rumors about a possible sale of Giuliano Simeone to Newcastle for €50 million show that there is a clear need for action internally. With only a one-point lead over Sevilla and one point behind Osasuna, Atlético is in the middle of the table.
Atlético Madrid are likely to line up in their usual 4-4-2 formation, although Diego Simeone may be forced to make tactical adjustments due to several absences. The loss of Julián Álvarez in attack is particularly painful, as his muscle injury will affect the Rojiblancos’ offensive capabilities. In defense, Le Normand is likely to start alongside Lenglet in central defense, with Giménez still out with a thigh injury. Oblak is considered a certainty between the posts, while Llorente and Javi Galán are likely to take the full-back positions. The midfield could be built around Barrios and Gallagher, with Giuliano Simeone and Nico González providing width on the wings. Up front, Griezmann is likely to be supported by Raspadori, as Álvarez and Thiago Almada are also out with injuries. However, this lineup remains speculative until the official announcement.
H2H Mallorca – Atletico Head-to-Head & Statistics
Atlético Madrid completely dominates this fixture: all five head-to-head matches in recent years have gone to the Rojiblancos. Interestingly, each game has followed a similar pattern, with Mallorca usually keeping up for one half, but then regularly conceding the decisive goals in the second half. The most recent encounter in February 2025 ended 2-0 for Atlético, with the familiar pattern repeating itself. A goalless first half, then the decision after the break. In Mallorca’s last home game in November 2024, a meager 0-1 was enough for the visitors to win. The defensive stability of the Madrid team in this series is remarkable. They did not concede any goals in four of the five games, only conceding one goal in April 2023 in a 3-1 victory. Mallorca failed to score in the last two encounters. The games are typically close and competitive. Four of the five encounters ended with fewer than 2.5 goals, reflecting Simeone’s pragmatic approach against supposedly weaker opponents. For Mallorca, it will be a matter of finally breaking this spell and scoring points for the first time in years.
The betting market sees Atlético as the clear favorite at 1.8, with the data suggesting even better value: Mallorca remains winless in the league and has already conceded seven goals, while the Rojiblancos have scored in each of their last five games. The impact of Giménez’s injury will be particularly interesting, as it weakens Atlético’s defense and at the same time creates space for the “both teams to score” scenario. Muriqi proved his dangerousness with his brace against Espanyol and now faces a visiting defense that has only kept a clean sheet once in five games. The focus on the first half seems particularly logical: Atlético has scored before the break in every league game, while Mallorca has fallen behind early in four of its last five encounters. The odds of 3.6 for a draw may seem tempting, but Arrasate’s team is still struggling for confidence and consistency, which will be a difficult task against Simeone’s experienced side.
