Atlético Madrid Crush Mallorca 3-0 to Surge into LaLiga Top Three

Atlético Madrid delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over relegation-battling Mallorca at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, propelling Diego Simeone's side into third place in the 2025-26 LaLiga standings with 44 points.[1][2][3]

The match, played on January 25, 2026, saw Atlético dominate possession and create numerous chances, securing back-to-back league wins and extending their unbeaten run to five games.[1][5] Mallorca, sitting 16th with 21 points, struggled defensively and remain just above the drop zone after a winless streak in their last five outings.[2]

Alexander Sørloth opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on a rebound after Mallorca goalkeeper Leo Román brilliantly saved a powerful volley from Marcos Llorente.[1][3][4][7] Román was kept busy early, denying efforts from Sørloth, Giuliano Simeone, and Pablo Barrios in quick succession, while Mallorca's Vedat Muriqi missed headers from corners.[1][5][6]

Atlético's pressure paid off again in the 75th minute when a cross from Llorente led to a comical own goal by David López, whose attempted clearance off Mateu Morey's deflection looped into his own net.[1][2][3][4]

Substitute Thiago Almada sealed the emphatic win in the 87th minute, rifling a fierce strike into the roof of the net from a loose ball following a corner.[1][2][3][4][5] The result leapfrogged Atlético over Villarreal, who lost 2-0 to Real Madrid, boosting their Champions League aspirations ahead of a midweek clash with Bodø/Glimt.[2]

Key performers for Atlético included Sørloth for his clinical finish, Llorente for his assists, and Almada for his late brilliance. Atlético midfielder Marcos Llorente highlighted the team's comfort in front of their fans post-match.[6]

Mallorca's defensive woes were evident, with limited threats beyond set-pieces, underscoring their precarious position in the table.[1][2]