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SÁB 01.02.2025
Atlético de Madrid are set to host RCD Mallorca at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Saturday in a clash where both teams will look to get back to winning ways in LALIGA EA SPORTS after dropping points at home on Matchday 21.
It promises to be a closely fought affair once more, and it’ll be interesting to see if Diego Simeone’s side can break down a solid RCD Mallorca or whether the visitors deal a blow to Atleti’s. Gerard Moreno opened the scoring from the spot just before the half hour mark, before Samuel Lino equalised after the break. Yet, Atlético de Madrid couldn’t manage to turn the game around entirely and they’ve now fallen four points behind league leaders Real Madrid.
A crucial game for the title race
A potential victory over RCD Mallorca will allow Atlético de Madrid to stay right behind Los Blancos, ahead of the upcoming ELDERBI DE MADRID, which is scheduled to take place on February 8th. On the other hand, dropping points for the third league game in a row would deal a major blow to Atlético de Madrid’s title aspirations.
Boasting the joint-best defence at home, with just seven league goals conceded at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano this season, this has helped Atleti to pick up 27 points in front of their own fans so far, the joint-best home record. Furthermore, Los Colchoneros are the only side to have avoided defeat on home soil this term. However, RCD Mallorca have demonstrated this season that beating them is anything but an easy task.
An island dreaming of a return to European competition
Los Bermellones are one of the teams who have stolen the limelight with their solid outings so far this term. Currently sitting sixth in the table, RCD Mallorca have set sights on a potential return to European competition for the first time since the 2003/04 campaign, when they reached the UEFA Cup (currently the UEFA Europa League) Round of 16.
A drop in form has seen Jagoba Arrasate’s side lose each of their last four games across all competitions without scoring a single goal. Their most recent defeat came at home against Real Betis, who netted late in stoppage time through Cédric Bakambu to snatch all three points.
Yet, Los Bermellones are considered one of the toughest sides to beat in the league given that only five teams have collected more points away from home than RCD Mallorca’s 15. Having won five of their 10 road games so far, they will travel to the Spanish capital looking to put an end to their four-game losing streak against Atlético de Madrid.
Over the last few years, games between Atlético de Madrid and RCD Mallorca have been characterised by their intensity on the pitch and a high level of defensive solidity, resulting in tight duels. In fact, five of their last six clashes have ended 1-0, with Atleti and RCD Mallorca celebrating three and two wins, respectively, while the other game from the past six was a 3-1 win for the capital city side.
Their last meeting was in November, when Julián Álvarez netted the winner that allowed Los Rojiblancos to escape with all three points from the Matchday 13 clash on the island. The last time that RCD Mallorca celebrated a victory at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano was back in December 2021, with Franco Russo and Takefusa Kubo scoring one apiece in the closing stages to clinch a 2-1 comeback victory on the road. It promises to be a closely fought affair once more, and it’ll be interesting to see if Diego Simeone’s side can break down a solid RCD Mallorca or whether the visitors deal a blow to Atleti’s title hopes.
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