RCD Mallorca-Atlético Madrid: A two-pronged objective

Los Colchoneros have a seventh consecutive league win in mind as they travel to Palma to face relegation candidates Mallorca.

Atlético Madrid’s eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end at Manchester City on Tuesday, but Diego Simeone does not appear to be in the mood to rotate his side in preparation for next week’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg. Atlético (17-6-7, 57 points) have only a four-point advantage over fifth-place Real Betis with eight games left, and securing a top-four place for the 10th consecutive season is paramount.

“We come from having four days (to prepare) after the game in Manchester,” Simeone said on Friday. “We have had time to rest, the team is fine and tomorrow we will decide (who starts). But we will continue along the same line we have been following.”

Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Mallorca (6-8-16, 26 points) have slipped into the drop zone courtesy of a seven-game losing skid. The dreadful form cost manager Luis García Plaza his job, with former Atlético boss Javier Aguirre replacing him last month. Only Alavés and Cádiz have scored fewer goals than Los Bermellones, but they have an opportunity to beat Atleti twice in the same season for the first time since 1999.

“We focus on this ‘League of 14’ that we started against Osasuna, and tomorrow we will face an opponent with great need (to win), like us,” Simeone said. “It will be a tough game, in a stadium that is always complicated.”

Neither José Giménez nor Héctor Herrera trained with their teammates on Friday, and subsequently both players were ruled out from the island trip. Stefan Savić left training Thursday with discomfort in his left foot and was only a partial participant Friday, so Simeone may choose not to risk the Montenegrin, either. Savić was named to the traveling squad, but if he can’t go, Mario Hermoso could be in line to make his first start since a disastrous 55-minute showing in a 4-2 loss to Barcelona on Feb. 6.

Along the forward line, Ángel Correa is finishing his two-game suspension and is unavailable, while Yannick Carrasco will return after completing his three-game ban from European competition in midweek.

“What we’re always searching for is to climb the table and improve,” Simeone said. “We hope to follow that line (from recent games) and for this, we need a commitment from everyone.”

Date April 9, 2022

Location Visit Mallorca Stadium, Palma, Balearic Islands

Kickoff time 4:15 p.m. CET, 3:15 p.m. GMT, 10:15 a.m. EST, 7:15 a.m. PST

Available TV/streaming ESPN+ (United States), Movistar LaLiga (Spain), LaLiga TV (United Kingdom)