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Mallorca welcome Atlético Madrid to the Estadi Son Moix this Sunday in a contest that sees a struggling host face a visitor still searching for consistency. Both sides have had uneven starts to the 2025–26 La Liga season, making this clash crucial for building momentum.
Mallorca’s Early-Season Struggles
Jagoba Arrasate’s Mallorca sit 19th in the table after four matches, having collected just a single point. The fixture list has been unforgiving, with early meetings against Barcelona and Real Madrid testing their resilience. Despite the poor return, the Pirates have shown flashes of competitiveness, most notably in their narrow 2–1 defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Vedat Muriqi, back from suspension, continues to be the focal point of the attack and scored against Los Blancos on his return. Around him, Sergi Darder provides grit and creativity in midfield, while Mateu Morey offers width on the right. With only Javi Llabres doubtful, Arrasate has nearly a full squad to work with—but pressure is mounting to turn spirited performances into points.
Atlético Madrid’s Inconsistent Start
Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid arrive buoyed by a 2–0 victory over Villarreal, their first league win of the season. However, their record of two draws and one defeat in the opening four games highlights an uncharacteristically shaky start.
Injuries have played a role, with Julián Álvarez, Thiago Almada, and José María Giménez all sidelined. Even so, Antoine Griezmann remains the heartbeat of Atlético’s attack, combining experience with creativity to orchestrate play. Midfield stability is provided by Pablo Barrios and captain Koke, while Jan Oblak continues as the dependable last line of defense. With European fixtures on the horizon, Simeone will want his side to build confidence at home and abroad.
Key Tactical Battles
Historically, Atlético have enjoyed dominance in this matchup, winning five of the last six encounters while conceding only twice. Yet Mallorca have shown resilience at home, including a gritty draw against Celta Vigo and a 2–0 preseason victory over HSV.
For Mallorca, defensive discipline will be crucial. Their best chance lies in exploiting set pieces and counterattacks, with Muriqi’s aerial ability and Darder’s delivery key weapons. Atlético, meanwhile, must guard against complacency and ensure their midfield isn’t outworked by Mallorca’s pressing game. If Simeone’s side can maintain control in the middle of the pitch, their superior quality in attack should eventually break through.
Prediction
Both teams have trended toward low-scoring matches in recent months. Atlético’s last 19 away league fixtures have produced under 2.5 goals on 17 occasions, while 14 of Mallorca’s previous 19 home games have also ended with two or fewer goals.
That history suggests another cagey affair. A 0–0 draw is a very real possibility, though Mallorca may test Atlético’s defense given the visitors’ absentees. Still, Simeone’s team has the experience to grind out results in tight games.
Prediction: Mallorca 0 – 0 Atlético Madrid
This matchup may not deliver fireworks, but it will provide a measure of each side’s resilience. For Mallorca, it is about survival and belief. For Atlético, it is about re-establishing themselves as reliable contenders at the top end of La Liga.
