Atlético Madrid’s early-season troubles continue as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Mallorca. Diego Simeone’s men, who had a chance to ease pressure with a much-needed win, instead dropped more points in a game marked by wasted opportunities, a missed penalty from Julián Álvarez, and a late equalizer that summed up their stuttering start to the campaign. With just six points from five matches, this is now Atlético’s worst league start under Simeone, and the pressure is mounting quickly.
Timeline:
- 14′ – Penalty Miss: Julián Álvarez sees his spot-kick saved by Mallorca goalkeeper Leo Román.
- 72′ – Red Card: Atlético’s Alexander Sørloth is sent off after a VAR review for a reckless challenge.
- 79′ – Goal (Atlético 1-0): Conor Gallagher scores on a rebound after Llorente’s shot to put the visitors ahead, despite being down to 10 men.
- 85′ – Goal (1-1 Mallorca): Muriqi heads in Jan Virgili’s cross to earn Mallorca a deserved equaliser.
Tactical Breakdown:
Atlético looked sharper in possession, pressing Mallorca high and creating chances, but their lack of cutting edge showed with Álvarez’s missed penalty. Simeone’s side tried to control midfield through Llorente and Gallagher, yet once Sørloth was sent off, they shifted into a compact 4-4-1, looking to counter. The plan briefly worked with Gallagher’s opener, but the defensive shape collapsed late as Mallorca overloaded the flanks and exploited the aerial threat of Muriqi, who punished Atlético’s tired back line.
Standout Performers:
Leo Román (Mallorca) – The goalkeeper was immense, saving Julián Álvarez’s penalty and making key stops to keep his side in the game.
- Conor Gallagher (Atlético) – Worked tirelessly in midfield and reacted quickly to score the opener, showing his box-to-box value.
- Marcos Llorente (Atlético) – Drove the team forward with energy and was involved in the buildup to Gallagher’s goal.
Manager and Player Reaction :
Diego Simeone: “Patience? We are trying to build a new team. Many players have arrived and that’s the process we are in. We’re on the right path, and we hope that efficiency and decisiveness will bring us closer to the results we are not yet getting.”
Pablo Barrios with a clear message to the fans: “I ask the Atlético Madrid fans to trust us. The results will come. The work we are doing is good.”
Koke: “From my point of view, we played a great match, but the ball just didn’t want to go in. The point doesn’t mean much to us.” We’ve lost a lot of points, but there’s still a long way to go until May. Football has to give it back to us because we are working very well.
Conclusion
Atlético sit 12th in the LaLiga table ahead of their clash with Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday. It’s a worrying position for a team with title ambitions, and the draw at Mallorca only adds to the frustration. Missed chances, a red card, and another late setback summed up their evening. The pressure is mounting on Simeone and his side to turn things around quickly, before their slow start turns into a full-blown crisis.
