Atletico Madrid defeated Real Mallorca 3-0 at the Estadio Metropolitano in the 21st round of the Spanish league, and Diego Simeone’s side remain “on the edge” of the top two in LaLiga, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Alexander Sorloth scored for the second time in a row in the domestic competition and equaled his teammate Julian Alvarez in the hierarchy of the best scorers this season, the second half also offering an own goal by the guests to determine the final result of the game. Thiago Almada “closed” the table with an unstoppable shot that he sent towards the end of the game, and Atletico Madrid extended its winning streak at home to 13.

Atletico Madrid were “obliged” to win the match that was played in the 21st round of LaLiga, at home, against Real Mallorca, precisely to keep a real chance of winning the title this season. The “rojiblancos” group was in third place in the general ranking of the Spanish championship before this game, accumulating 41 points up to this point, being eight lengths behind Barcelona, ​​respectively 10 points behind the current leader, Real Madrid. On the other hand, the team from the Balearic Islands was in the “dangerous” zone of the general hierarchy, two lengths away from the relegation positions and was looking for a “crucial” success.

In the middle of last week, the students led by Diego Simeone from the sidelines drew in Turkey, in Istanbul, in the company of Galatasaray, in a match in which Giuliano Simeone shone, and Jan Oblak, respectively Marcos Llorente, saved the team from the Spanish capital from failure in the last minutes of the match. In the most recent stage of the domestic competition, Atletico Madrid managed to defeat Deportivo Alaves, at the “Estadio Metropolitano”, with a final score of 1-0, while Real Mallorca, in the last round of LaLiga, had overcome Athletic Bilbao, at the limit, a final score of 3-2, in a duel in which Vedat Muriqi scored three times.

In fact, the guest’s Kosovar striker was, before the confrontation at the “Estadio Metropolitano” in second place in the scorers’ ranking, with a total of 14 goals scored so far, being seven lengths behind Kylian Mbappe. Atletico Madrid had not lost to their own fans in all competitions since April of last year, and the last 12 matches that took place at the stadium in the capital had ended with a triumph for the hosts. In the current round of the Spanish championship season, the direct meeting between the “rojiblancos” group and Real Mallorca had ended in a draw, and in the last six such matches, Atletico Madrid had won in five duels.

Diego Simeone could not rely on the services of Antoine Griezmann for this match, the French striker of “los colchoneros” suffering a muscle injury that will “keep” him away from the pitch for the next period. Jagoba Arrasate did not have Manu Morlanes, Toni Lato and Marash Kumbulla available for the match at the “Estadio Metropolitano”. The visitors had a first attempt to open the scoring, with Sergi Darder managing to recover a pass in the left corner of the pitch and cross into the middle of the box, where Vedat Muriqi headed the ball wide of the goal.

Alex Baena created danger for the first time in the Balearic Islands’ penalty area when the former Villareal player crossed with great effect into the mouth of the goalposts defended by Leo Roman, but the Real Mallorca goalkeeper boxed the ball and kept his goal intact. Julian Alvarez threw a ball to the short corner from a corner, and David Hancko came running to finish, the Slovak stopper’s header being rebounded wide of the goal, from a few metres. Sergi Darder once again found Vedat Muriqi free between the central defenders of “los colchoneros”, but the Kosovar forward sent it over the goal.

The most important goal-scoring opportunity in the first quarter of an hour of the match was created by Alexander Sorloth, who was launched deep by an exceptional pass provided by Giuliano Simeone. After dribbling outside, the Norwegian striker from Atletico Madrid shot into the far corner, on foot, but Leo Roman was on the post and denied the execution. The opening of the scoring came after a long throw from the edge belonging to Giuliano Simeone, and, after a wrong rejection by the defense of Real Mallorca, Marcos Llorente shot a powerful volley. The ball blocked by the goalkeeper of the team prepared by Jagoba Arrasate reached the feet of Alexander Sorloth, and the northern tip completed a simple formality to bring his team into the lead, reaching the mark of seven goals scored this season.

In the second half, Pablo Barrios started the home team’s chances, the Atletico Madrid central midfielder deciding to shoot from about 25 meters, but his execution was not directed towards one of the corners of the goal defended by Leo Roman, so the Spanish goalkeeper of Real Mallorca intervened promptly. The same “eight” of the “rojiblancos” team tried his luck in the 61st minute of the confrontation in the Spanish capital, shooting with great effect, to the far corner, from the edge of the penalty area, after receiving a pass from Marcos Llorente. The ball sent by the Spanish central midfielder went past the right post of the opposing goal.

Johan Mojica sent a long-range free kick, but the Colombian left-back’s attempt to restore parity on the scoreboard could not be squared, with Jan Oblak showing no emotion at this set piece. From a free kick that was beaten from the right corner of the field by Marcos Llorente, Alexander Sorloth rose above the entire defense of the guests, but the Norwegian striker’s header was caught by the Real Mallorca goalkeeper from the first. Vedat Muriqi missed a crucial chance for the island group near the entrance to the last quarter of the match, when the Kosovo striker resumed with his head a palm away from the goal defended by Jan Oblak.

The second success of this match was an own goal signed by David Lopez, who was hit by the ball thrown into the goal by Marcos Llorente. The visitors’ central defender could not avoid contact with the ball, and the “rojiblancos” would double their advantage in the general. The third goal of this match was scored by a player who came off the bench, Thiago Almada taking a ball in the box and finishing unstoppably, with a shot sent into the opponent’s goal.

Thanks to this success recorded in their own “home”, the 13th in a row in all competitions, Atletico Madrid collected 44 points and remains on the podium in the domestic competition, while Real Mallorca remains in the dangerous zone of the general hierarchy, being able to be surpassed by both Getafe and Alaves in the ranking. In the next round, “los colchoneros” will play away against Levante, and the island club will duel with Sevilla, at home.