Atlético de Madrid visit Real Club Deportivo Mallorca at Son Moix on Sunday afternoon, a stadium where Atlético have not won in consecutive seasons since 1961.
Atlético Madrid (6-5-1, 23 points) is hoping to leapfrog Villarreal and enter the upcoming international break in third place, well adrift of leaders Barcelona but one point behind Real Madrid.
Los Colchoneros should have gotten quite the boost after defeating Paris Saint-Germain in a vital Champions League game on Wednesday, and they are looking to take that momentum to Mallorca.
“We’re facing a team that is playing very well, with a coach who has a clear idea of how to play that he demonstrated in Osasuna and now he has taken it to Mallorca,” Diego Simeone told the media on Saturday. “We are up against a team that is doing very well.”
Under new manager Jagoba Arrasate, Mallorca (5-3-4, 18 points) has conceded nine goals from 12 games — only Atlético (seven) has conceded fewer.
Los Bermellones are industrious and hard-working, but they have struggled to create chances consistently and have suffered some bad luck in front of goal, too. Mallorca’s only goal across the past three rounds was striker Vedat Muriqi’s 75th-minute header in a 1-0 home win over Rayo Vallecano on Oct. 20.
Simeone did not test a possible starting 11 during Saturday’s training session, which lasted just 40 minutes.
It stands to reason that Josema Giménez, suspended for the PSG game, will return to the lineup and anchor the defense; Nahuel Molina figures to keep his place at right-back following his strong performance (with a goal) in Paris.
Cholo was asked Saturday about forward Alexander Sørloth, who did not play in the French capital but should have a new opportunity in Mallorca.
