Atlético Madrid 3 – Real Mallorca 0: A Disappointing Loss for Mallorca
Lacklustre Real Mallorca looked like a condemned side after capitulating 3-0 to Atletico Madrid on Sunday afternoon. The home team have been misfiring of late, and this was the first time in six matches this year that they had scored more than one goal. According to recent statistics, Mallorca’s defensive weaknesses have been a major concern, with the team failing to keep a clean sheet in seven consecutive games.
A Poor Performance from Mallorca
Mallorca came into this game with damage limitation as their number one objective. They played like a team of strangers, although Muriqi had a half chance early in the game. In the 22nd minute, Atleti went ahead, with their man of the match, goalkeeper Leo Roman, making a spectacular save from a Llorente shot. However, nobody in the Mallorca defence could clear the rebound, and the Norwegian giant Sorloth tapped in the opener. This goal highlighted the team’s defensive vulnerabilities, which have been a recurring issue throughout the season.
Atletico have two massive Champions League games on the horizon and took their foot off the gas. Their goalkeeper, Jan Oblak, was a spectator for most of the game, and the only time he got his hands warmed was when he was high-fiving his defenders. This lack of intensity from Atletico allowed Mallorca to have some possession, but they failed to capitalize on it, with Muriqi being their best outfield player, albeit feeding off scraps.
A Disappointing Second Half
Into the second half, Mallorca’s defence fell asleep, passing the ball sideways and backwards. Two players who were absent last Saturday in their 3-2 win against Bilbao, Maffeo and Mojica, had shockers and were at fault for Atletico’s opener. By now, the home side had ringed in the Mallorca team, who struggled to get over the halfway line. In the 75th minute, Atletico netted their second, or rather Mallorca did it for them, with a move down the left seeing Llorente’s effort cleared by substitute Mateo Morey, only for the ball to strike Alaro’s David Lopez on the face and cannon into the net, making it 2-0.
With time running out, Atletico’s third was a beauty, with substitute Almada shooting home from the edge of the area, making it 3-0. This loss has raised concerns about coach Arrasate’s tactics and his ability to motivate the team. As one expert noted, “Mallorca have become a predictable team of shell-shocked players who display defensive weaknesses and are totally ineffective in attack.” The team’s lack of cohesion and strategy has been evident in recent games, and it remains to be seen how they will bounce back from this disappointing loss.
What’s Next for Mallorca?
A week tomorrow, Monday, February 27, direct rivals Sevilla come to Son Moix, with kick-off at 9 pm. The ground is not expected to be buzzing for that game, as Monday night football is not popular, and many Mallorquinistas are beginning to show little faith in this team. Coach Arrasate has to take a lot of the blame for the team’s poor performance, and it will be interesting to see how he responds to this criticism. For more information on this match and Mallorca’s relegation woes, visit Here
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