Mallorca stun Atletico Madrid 1-0 as Muriqi seals crucial win

Vedat Muriqi delivered a crucial goal as Mallorca earned a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid at the island club’s stadium. The result kept Mallorca clear of the relegation zone and added pressure on Diego Simeone’s side as they eye a return leg against Manchester City and face a potential squeeze on European hopes as the season reaches its final phase.

In a contest where Luis Suárez started on the bench with Joao Félix still unavailable, Atletico Madrid found little way to pierce an opponent focused on defending with urgency and countering with efficiency. Even after a break in play, Simeone could not find a tactical adjustment that shifted the balance, marking another setback for the capital club against a Mallorca team determined to improve their league standing.

Reinildo Mandava’s foul in the 66th minute opened the door for Mallorca to strike. The Kosovar forward Muriqi seized the moment with a composed finish from outside the box, guiding the ball into the left corner past Jan Oblak and tilting the momentum in the home team’s favor.

The goal ended Atlético’s six-match domestic winning streak and nudged Real Betis closer to a European berth, their 2-1 win against Cadiz keeping them within a point of the top four. Mallorca, under Javier Aguirre, transformed a precarious position into a controlled display as they wrested momentum away from the visitors.

Early on, a miscue by Koke threatened Mallorca’s plan, and Mallorca’s confidence grew as Cadiz’s earlier results had created belief that safety was within reach. Muriqi then converted from the penalty spot after a challenge inside the box, driving the ball to the right corner and tightening the scoreline while complicating Atlético’s night.

Shortly after, Mark Llorente found space for a solo finish, introducing renewed danger for the home defense as Mallorca pressed forward. The first half offered few clear chances, with neither side forcing a shot on target to alter the narrative.

As the second half began, Oblak produced a sharp stop to deny Mallorca’s best effort, a powerful strike from Brian Oliván. Simeone responded by reshuffling the lineup, bringing Matheus Cunha and Thomas Lemar into the action in search of a spark from the bench.

Rodrigo De Paul attempted a long-range effort in the 50th minute, a shot narrowly missed the target from the edge of the area. A few minutes later Suárez rose highest to meet a cross, but Sergio Rico gathered with ease, preserving the visitors’ slender lead. The tension rose when Muriqi tested Oblak with a header from a set piece, and a foul on Maffeo by Reinildo earned a penalty just past the hour mark.

The Kosovo forward calmly converted to the right corner, doubling Mallorca’s advantage and complicating Atlético’s attempts to salvage a result. Mallorca withstood late pressure to seal a 1-0 win, leaving Atlético with questions ahead of the return leg in Madrid and the looming Champions League quarterfinal against Manchester City.

DATA SHEET.

RESULT: RCD MALLORCA 1 – ATLÉTICO DE MADRID 0 (0-0 at halftime).

LINES

RCD MALLORCA: Sergio Rico; Maffeo, Raillo, Valjent, Oliván, Jaume Costa; Father (Grenier, min. 96), Antonio Sánchez (Battaglia, min. 86), Kang In Lee (Kubo, min. 54); Dani Rodríguez and Muriqi.

MADRID ATHLETIC: Oblak; Llorente, Savic, Felipe (Lodi, min. 75), Reinildo, Carrasco; Kondogbia, Koke (Lemar, min.46), De Paul (Vrsaljko, min.62); Griezmann (Cunha, min.46) and Luis Suárez (Joao Félix, min.62).

AIM:

1-0, min.68: Muriqi from the penalty spot.

REFEREE: Martínez Munuera (C.Valenciano). Warn Mallorca and Vrsaljko (min.63), Reinildo (min.66), Savic (min.80) and Kondogbia (min.84) and Dani Rodríguez (min.44) of Atletico de Madrid. Attribution: Match report from contemporary sports dispatches.