Atletico Madrid vs Mallorca

Atletico Madrid will be looking to stay within touching distance of La Liga pacesetters Real Madrid when they take on lowly Mallorca at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.

Although a 4-1 thumping of Cadiz on the road last time out extended Atletico Madrid’s unbeaten run in La Liga to seven matches (W4, D3), they are still seven points adrift of league-toppers Real Madrid. Yet, with a game in hand over cross-town rivals, Atletico’s title defense is still on, as they aim for a third league win in a row for the first time this season. Wanda Metropolitano has been a fortress this season, with ‘Los Rojiblancos’ going unbeaten in their seven top-flight matches here so far (W4, D3). Their undefeated home record is likely to go on, considering they’ve kept Mallorca winless in their previous eight top-flight H2Hs as hosts (W3, D5), winning the last two in a row without conceding. They’ve never won three consecutive home H2Hs ‘to nil’ in the competition.

In the meantime, Mallorca have drawn 46.67% of their La Liga fixtures this season (7/15), including five of the last six (L1), only one of which ended ‘nil-nil.’ Since beating Levante 1-0 at home in early October, they’ve gone winless in seven league games (D5, L2), dropping to 14th in the table, only four points clear of 18th-placed Cadiz. Their underwhelming form could hit a new low as they go up against a side they’ve defeated just once in 13 La Liga H2Hs away from home (D5, L7), courtesy of a narrow 1-0 win in April 2006. A run of six league travels without a victory (D2, L4) douses any embers of optimism when it comes to a possible upset in Madrid. ‘Los Piratas’ have at least been fun to watch, with three of their last five away league fixtures seeing over 3.5 goals and both teams scoring.