Atlético back to winning ways with victory over Mallorca

Goals by winger Samuel Lino and forward Antoine Griezmann helped Atlético Madrid beat Mallorca 2-0 in LaLiga on Saturday as Diego Simeone's side returned to winning ways in the manager's 500th game in the Spanish top flight as Atlético boss.

Lino put the home side in front in the 26th minute with a low strike inside the far post before Griezmann doubled the advantage in stoppage time, lobbing Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif from distance.

Atlético, who on Wednesday booked their place in the round of 16 of the Champions League with a dominant 4-1 win at Salzburg, were winless in their previous two league games.

They are second in the standings on 48 points, one point off leaders Real Madrid who visit Espanyol later on Saturday before the two city rivals face each other next weekend at the Bernabeu.

Last year's Copa del Rey finalists Mallorca, who extended their losing streak in all competitions to five games, remained seventh with 30 points.

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The visitors looked good at the start but were quickly faced with Atlético's attacking powers.

Lino broke the deadlock halfway through the opening half, after forward Giuliano Simeone took over the ball around the halfway line and set up the Brazilian with a neat pass onto the edge of the area.

Greif pulled off a brilliant save before the break, denying Simeone from close range, while the visitors did not manage a shot on target before the interval.

Mallorca upped the tempo in the second half and pushed Atletico into more vigilance in their defence line as Sergi Darder and Dani Rodríguez had close chances.

But that did not last long and substitute Griezmann was inches from doubling the lead for the hosts from point-blank range following the hour mark, arriving seconds late to reach a pass across the face of the goal from defender Robin Le Normand.

The French forward, however, eventually managed to increase the scoreline when he latched onto a loose ball and netted with a chipped finish, leaving Greif with no chance minutes after midfielder Rodrigo Riquelme hit the bar from a free kick.

Griezmann, who was at the double in midweek against Salzburg, had not scored in LaLiga since their 4-3 home win over Sevilla last December.

Simeone, in charge of Atlético since 2011, became the eighth LaLiga coach to reach 500 games in the competition -- the first to do so with a single club.

Mallorca, who are yet to score in 2025, are on their longest losing streak since April 2022.