GRIEZMANN-LESS ATLéTICO HOPE SATURDAY’S ISLAND GETAWAY BRINGS BACK 3 POINTS

Atlético de Madrid face Copa del Rey runners-up Mallorca on Saturday night in another important game for Los Colchoneros’ top-four ambitions.

Atlético Madrid (20-4-9, 64 points) took a huge step last weekend toward securing Champions League football for the 12th consecutive season. The 3-1 victory over cup winners Athletic Club created a six-point gap between fourth and fifth place, and Atlético will at least seek to maintain that advantage at Son Moix — although Los Rojiblancos’ away form remains pitiful, and the team’s record in Palma de Mallorca over the past 20 years (two wins from 12) does not offer a ton of inspiration.

“With our away form, I know what’s happening,” Diego Simeone told reporters on Friday. “But I can’t tell you.”

Mallorca (6-14-13, 32 points) are not yet assured of survival from LALIGA and have not won in the league for nearly two months. Only 18th-place Cádiz, on track for relegation, have scored fewer goals than Mallorca this season, but head coach Javier Aguirre’s compact defensive system gave Atlético issues in Los Colchoneros’ narrow 1-0 home win in November and figures to do so again here.

“Mallorca are a tough opponent, they work with a coach I admire for his calmness and his ability to compete,” Simeone said of Aguirre. “We will be in for a tough match.”

Simeone will have just two first-team strikers available for the island trip, with Antoine Griezmann (suspension) and Memphis Depay (muscle injury) remaining in Madrid. El Cholo said Friday that Memphis is expected to return for next Sunday’s fixture against Celta Vigo, and the coach highlighted that gaining fitness for Euro 2024 is the Dutch forward’s aim.

Given the absences, Simeone is likely to revert to “full pragmatist” and line up Atlético in a 5-4-1 for Saturday’s contest. Ángel Correa will be the lone forward in the 11, hoping to hit double-digit goals in LALIGA for the second time in three seasons. Samuel Lino and Rodrigo Riquelme are both likely to start down the left-hand side, while César Azpilicueta could step in for Nahuel Molina at right wing-back.

Date May 4, 2024

Location Son Moix, Palma de Mallorca

Kickoff time 9:00 p.m. CEST, 8:00 p.m. BST, 3:00 p.m. ET, 12:00 p.m. PT

Available TV/streaming ESPN+ (United States), Movistar+ (Spain), Premier Sports 1 (United Kingdom)

2024-05-03T15:07:01Z dg43tfdfdgfd