How to waste 150 milion euros? Just ask Atletico Madrid

The team that has spent so much money keeps delivering worse and worse performances match after match. And just when everyone thought Atlético would rise and join the title race, yet another slip-up occurred…

The first 45 minutes between Mallorca and Atletico Madrid ended goalless (0-0), but there was no shortage of drama and chances on both sides.

Atletico threatened as early as the 3rd minute, when Giacomo Raspadori nearly scored directly from a corner kick, forcing Mallorca goalkeeper Roman into a sharp save. Just four minutes later, Atletico came close again — Rodrigo Barrios’s shot was mishandled by Roman, and the ball ricocheted off his hands onto the post, sparing the hosts.

The 12th minute brought the biggest moment of the half: Julian Alvarez broke past Hancko and was brought down by captain Raillo inside the box, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Alvarez took responsibility himself, but Roman redeemed his earlier mistake with a brilliant penalty save to keep the score level.

Mallorca responded in the 23rd minute when Martin Valjent found space just outside the box and unleashed a shot toward the right post, but Atletico’s goalkeeper was equal to it. Five minutes before the break, Gonzalez tried his luck from distance, though his effort lacked the power to trouble the keeper.

The second half in Mallorca was filled with tense moments and big chances for both sides. In the 51st minute, Manu Morlanes went down in the box after a challenge, but the referee waved away Mallorca’s protests.

Two minutes later, Julian Alvarez nearly opened the scoring for Atletico Madrid, receiving a perfect pass at the edge of the box and firing powerfully toward the left side of the goal, only for Leo Roman to make a stunning save.

Mallorca came close themselves in the 62nd minute. Takuma Asano had space near the penalty spot but headed weakly and inaccurately over the bar, missing a golden opportunity. Atletico tried to respond in the 69th minute when Antoine Griezmann received a precise pass and shot low from the edge of the box, but Roman was equal to the task again, blocking the attempt with ease.

Drama struck in the 71st minute. Alexander Sorloth’s reckless challenge led to a foul. After a VAR review, Sorloth was shown a red card, reducing Atletico to ten men and giving Mallorca a clear advantage with a free kick.

Despite being a man down, Atlético kept pushing forward. In the 79th minute, Marcos Llorente unleashed a powerful shot toward the lower left corner after a well-placed pass, but Roman produced another brilliant save. The rebound fell to Conor Gallagher, who finished calmly into the net, putting Atletico ahead 1-0. The goal is HERE!

The end of Simeone era? Americans set to buy Atletico

Mallorca didn’t give up, though. In the 85th minute, Vedat Muriqi scored with a powerful header from a difficult position, leaping high and directing the ball past the keeper into the left corner — an excellent strike that restored parity. The goal is HERE!

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 5

Friday

Betis - Sociedad 3-1 (1-1)

/Hernandez 7, Remiro 49 og, Fornals 69 - Mendez 13/

Saturday

Girona - Levante 0-4 (0-1)

/Eyong 43, Alvarez 49, Romero 70, Koyalipou 90+2/

Real Madrid - Espanyol 2-0 (1-0)

/Militao 22, Mbappe 47/

Alaves - Sevilla 1-2 (1-1)

/Vicente 17 pen - Vargas 10, Sanchez A. 67/

Villarreal - Osasuna 2-1 (0-1)

/Mikautadze 69, Gueye 85 - Budimir 45+6 pen/

Valencia - Athletic Bilbao 2-0 (0-0)

/Santamaria 73, Duro 90+3/

Sunday

Rayo Vallecano - Celta 1-1 (0-0)

/De Frutos 65 - Iglesias 49/

Mallorca - Atl. Madrid 1-1 (0-0)

/Muriqi 85 - Gallagher 79/

19.30: (2.00) Elche (3.30) Oviedo (4.00)

22.00: (1.23) Barcelona (6.75) Getafe (15.0)

*** odds are subject to change***