Atletico Madrid vs Real Mallorca
Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid
Friday, 03-07-2020 @11pm
Ref: Javier Alberola
Croatian defender Sime Vrsaljko remains on the sidelines for Atletico through injury, but Diego Simeone’s squad is otherwise in good shape. There are expected to be changes from the side that started at Camp Nou last time out, with Kieran Trippier, Alvaro Morata and Joao Felix all in line to return to the starting XI. Stefan Savic and Koke should also return from suspension to feature, while Hector Herrera could earn a spot in the middle of the park, with Thomas Partey and Diego Costa likely to be among those to drop out.
As for Mallorca, leading scorer Ante Budimir and key centre-back Martin Valjent are both suspended due to the yellow cards that they picked up in the heavy win over Celta. Lumor Agbenyenu and Leonardo Koutris are both on the sidelines through injury, meanwhile, meaning that the visitors will be far from at full strength for Friday’s contest. The absence of Budimir, who has 12 La Liga goals to his name, is a big one for the strugglers, and his unavailability could open the door for Junior Lago to join Juan Hernandez in the final third.
Atletico dented Barcelona’s title challenge on Tuesday night as they secured a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou thanks to a brace of penalties from Saul.
Mallorca ended their winless run in a crucial relegation six-pointer at home to a Celta Vigo side that sit one place above them in the La Liga table. Budimir netted a brace as Mallorca claimed a 5-1 win to move to within 5pts of Celta Vigo in the race against relegation but still remain in the bottom three with five games left to play.
Atletico won 2-0 in their reverse league fixture against Mallorca back in September courtesy of a Costa strike in the first half and another from Felix in the second.
Friday’s hosts have only lost one of their last seven matches against Mallorca and head into their latest encounter as the clear form favourites with four wins and two draws from their last six league games.
Mallorca have lost four of their last six La Liga games but that 5-1 win against Celta Vigo has given the relation battlers a platform to build from.
Atletico have won ten of their 16 home games as for Mallorca have lost 13 of their 16 away games.
The other La Liga games this weekend
Saturday, 04-07-20205
-Celta Vigo vs Real Betis @6pm
-Real Valladolid vs Deportivo Alaves @8:30pm
-Granada vs Valencia @11pm
Sunday, 05-07-2020
-Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid @3pm
-Espanyol vs Leganes @6pm
-Osasuna vs Getafe @8:30pm
-Villarreal vs Barcelona @11pm
Monday, 06-07-2020
-Levante vs Real Sociedad @8:30pm
-Sevilla vs Eibar @11pm
