16th-placed RCD Mallorca will look to end their four-match winless run when they host Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
Atletico Madrid will look to strengthen their position inside the top four when they hit the road to face RCD Mallorca who are involved in the relegation battle. The home team are currently 16th in the points table, and they have a six-point advantage over 18th-placed Cadiz. With five games to go in the season, they do have a decent lead but their recent form suggests things could get complicated.
The home team have only picked up two points in their last four league outings, and they will have to do much better to ensure things do not get complicated towards the end of the season. But, it won’t be easy to square up against one of the giants of Spanish football.
Atletico Madrid have not been at their best this season. They are expected to fight for the league title, but things have not worked according to plan, and a top-four finish is all they are looking for. They have managed to establish a six-point lead over fifth-placed Athletic Club having defeated them in their last outing.
With just five games to go, one would expect Simeone’s men to get the job done without much difficulty. While Mallorca will surely give it their all, Atletico Madrid are still expected to be the favourites for this fixture. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both squads and tries to predict the tactics they could use.
Team News & Tactics
RCD Mallorca
Jose Manuel Copete, who was suspended for their last outing, will miss this fixture with a calf injury. Apart from him, the home team have a fully-fit squad, and their manager is unlikely to make any major changes to the XI that started in their last outing.
Mallorca will stick to the 5-4-1 formation, where Predrag Rajkovic will be in goal. Giovanni Gonzalez and Pablo Maffeo will be the wing-backs for the home team. In the heart of the defence, Matija Nastasic will start alongside Antonio Raillo and Martin Valjent.
The back five will look to keep the star-studded Atletico Madrid attack at bay. In the centre of the park, Samu Costa will feature alongside Omar Mascarell. The duo will be in a central role, while Dani Rodríguez and Antonio Sanchez will start on the flanks. They will provide the width of their attacks. Vedat Muriqi will lead the line for Mallorca against Atletico Madrid.
Probable Lineup (5-4-1): Rajkovic; Gonzalez, Valjent, Raillo, Nastasic, Maffeo; Dani Rodriguez, Samu Costa, Mascarell, Antonio Sanchez; Muriqi
Atletico Madrid
The visitors will be without their star man Antoine Griezmann, who picked up a milestone yellow in their last outing. Gabriel Paulista, Memphis Depay, Thomas Lemar, and Marcos Paulo are all out injured for Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile, Stefan Savic is expected to be back in the mix, having served a ban in the last outing.
Diego Simeone’s team will line up with a 3-5-2 formation, where Jan Oblak will be in goal. Axel Witsel, Jose Maria Gimenez and Mario Hermoso will form the back three ,while Nahuel Molina and Samuel Lino will feature as the wing-backs.
Rodrigo De Paul will start alongside Koke and Marcos Llorente in the centre of the park. The trio will look to control the tempo of the game and ensure they dominate the opposition. In attack, Alvaro Morata should start alongside Angel Correa.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Hermoso; Molina, De Paul, Koke, Llorente, Lino; Correa, Morata
Key Stats
- Atletico Madrid have won 14 out of their last 32 matches played between the two teams, while Mallorca only have nine wins to their name.
- Mallorca have been winless in their last four league games.
- Atletico Madrid have lost nine games this season, the most amongst the top seven clubs.
- Mallorca have come out on top against Atletico in their last two league matches at home.
- Diego Simeone’s team have won their last two La Liga games against Mallorca.
Player to Watch
Alvaro Morata
At Atletico Madrid, the limelight is always on Antoine Griezmann. But Morata is an attacker of similar pedigree, and he has had a great season this time out. In his 44 outings, the former Real Madrid ace has found the back of the net on 20 occasions, and he also has four assists to his name. Diego Simeone will hope the 31-year-old adds to it and helps his team secure three more points on the night.
Prediction
RCD Mallorca 0-2 Atletico Madrid
Mallorca have not won in their last four outings, and it is unlikely to change against Atletico Madrid, who are heading into this one on the back of an important win over Athletic Club. Diego Simeone’s team are expected to dominate the proceedings. While they are without Antoine Griezmann, they still have enough firepower to go past the home team. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for the visitors.