Alexander Sørloth's clinical early finish and a late flurry secured Atlético Madrid a commanding 3-0 victory over struggling Mallorca, consolidating fourth place in LALIGA with a dominant performance at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The Norwegian striker's precision, coupled with a David López own goal and Thiago Almada's late strike, underscored Atlético's superiority against the relegation-threatened visitors.
The match's early exchanges suggested a potential tactical battle, with Mallorca's defensive organization initially frustrating the hosts. However, Sørloth swiftly dismantled those hopes in the 22nd minute, latching onto a precise delivery and unleashing a devastating left-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box. His clinical finish rocketed into the top left corner, leaving Leo Román with no chance and rewarding Atlético's mounting pressure.
Sørloth had already tested Román moments earlier in the 14th minute, forcing a remarkable save with a left-footed effort from the left side of the box. Giuliano Simeone's clever work created the opportunity, with the young Argentine also seeing his own attempt from the centre of the box denied by the Mallorca goalkeeper. These early chances signaled Atlético's intent to dominate proceedings.
And dominate they did. The hosts controlled 60.9% possession, systematically pinning Mallorca back and creating a relentless attacking rhythm. Julián Alvarez orchestrated much of Atlético's creative play, his intelligent movement and precise distribution constantly probing the visitors' defensive lines. Pablo Barrios pulled the midfield strings with surgical precision, while Marcos Llorente provided dynamic width and tireless energy down the right flank.
Mallorca's resistance finally crumbled in the 75th minute through the cruellest of circumstances. Under immense pressure from Atlético's unrelenting attack, David López inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net, doubling the hosts' advantage. The own goal epitomized the mounting psychological and tactical pressure Mallorca had endured throughout the match.
Leo Román, Mallorca's goalkeeper, delivered a heroic performance that prevented an even more emphatic scoreline. He was called into action seven times, producing a series of crucial saves that temporarily kept his side within touching distance. In the 68th minute, Román denied Sørloth again, pushing away a powerful header from the centre of the box after Alvarez's dangerous cross. Similarly, he pushed away Pablo Barrios' right-footed effort from outside the box in the 50th minute, showcasing remarkable reflexes.
The statistical dominance was stark. Atlético launched 17 shots at goal compared to Mallorca's meager six attempts, generating 10 corners that underscored their territorial superiority. Vedat Muriqi led Mallorca's limited attacking efforts, coming closest in the 74th minute with a header from the centre of the box that narrowly missed the target.
The match's intensity occasionally boiled over, requiring careful referee oversight. José María Giménez received a yellow card in the 55th minute for a foul on Mateo Joseph, while Nico González was cautioned in the 62nd minute. David López joined the book late on after a foul on Alvarez, encapsulating Mallorca's frustrating evening.
Diego Simeone made strategic changes to manage the game's tempo, introducing Robin Le Normand and Thiago Almada in the 73rd minute. The Argentine midfielder's impact was immediate and decisive. With Mallorca desperately pushing forward, Atlético exploited the spaces left behind.
Almada sealed the victory in the 87th minute, firing a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the high centre of the goal following a corner. His strike came after Nico González's header from Alvarez's cross had missed to the left, but Almada was perfectly positioned to convert the loose ball and cap a comprehensive performance.
The final minutes saw Atlético continue to threaten, with substitute Koke forcing another save from Román in stoppage time. His right-footed effort from the right side of the box was pushed over by the Mallorca goalkeeper, who could take pride in his individual performance despite the heavy defeat.
For Mallorca, the loss leaves them precariously positioned in 17th place with just 18 points from 19 matches. Their defensive vulnerabilities were ruthlessly exposed by Atlético's quality, and manager Javier Aguirre faces significant challenges in finding solutions. The visitors managed just one shot on target all evening, with Martin Valjent's 78th-minute effort from the centre of the box comfortably saved by Jan Oblak.
Atlético's victory strengthens their grip on fourth place with 38 points, keeping them firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification. The clean sheet will please Simeone, as will the contributions from across his squad. Giuliano Simeone impressed with his work rate and creativity, while the defensive partnership of Giménez and Dávid Hancko remained largely untroubled.
The win caps a fine run for Atlético Madrid before facing Granada on February 1. Mallorca, desperately seeking points in their survival battle, must regroup quickly with their next fixture looming large in their fight against relegation.