Atletico Madrid’s Dominance Over Mallorca
In a commanding display, Atletico Madrid dominated Mallorca with a 3-0 victory, reclaiming third place in La Liga on Sunday. This match marked a turning point for Atletico, as it was their first instance of scoring more than once in a game this year, breaking a six-match streak of underwhelming offensive performances.
Impact on League Standings
The win allowed Diego Simeone’s side to put some distance between themselves and Villarreal, who fell to Real Madrid 2-0 on Saturday, creating a three-point gap. However, it is worth noting that Villarreal has a game in hand, maintaining competitive pressure in the battle for European spots.
Match Highlights
The scoring began in the 22nd minute when Alexander Sorloth netted his fourth goal of the season, giving the home team an early lead. The situation took a bizarre turn later in the game at the 75-minute mark, when an attempted clearance from Osasuna’s defender David López resulted in an own goal, putting Atletico ahead by two. López was inadvertently struck by a deflected shot from his teammate Mateu Morey, leading to a shocking addition to the scoreboard.
Thiago Almada then capped the performance with a goal in the 87th minute, confirming Atletico’s consecutive league victory. Despite having edged out their rival, Mallorca is struggling near the bottom of the standings, currently sitting in 16th place with only one win in their last five outings, including three losses and a draw. Their recent victory was a narrow 3-2 against Athletic Bilbao last weekend.
Tribute to Victims
In a somber note preceding the match, a minute of silence was observed at stadiums across the country in memory of victims from two recent train disasters in Spain, highlighting the tragic events that have cast a shadow over the weekend’s sporting activities.
