We fell to a frustrating 3-1 loss against Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Metropolitano despite taking an early lead courtesy of Matija Nastasić’s early goal.
Javier Aguirre named a much-rotated side with the inclusion of Abdon Prats and Angel in attack at the expense of Kang-In Lee and Vedat Muriqi.
We took the lead in the 20th minute when Nastasić climbed highest to head home at the far post from a corner.
The hosts had a late penalty shout minutes before the break ruled out by a VAR review, although we could not make it to half-time with the lead as Rodrigo de Paul capitalised on a second ball following Antoine Griezmann’s earlier effort.
Things went from bad to worse after the restart as Alvaro Morata headed home in the 47th minute to give Atletico Madrid the lead.
Substitute Kang-In Lee would have our best chance of drawing level in the 75th minute, but his effort was deflected wide of the near post.
As we chased an equaliser, we were hit on the counter in the 77th minute as Yannick Carrasco went through on goal unchallenged and slid the ball into the bottom corner to condemn us to defeat.
Atlético de Madrid: Grbic, Molina, Witsel, Giménez, Hermoso, Carrasco, De Paul (Saúl, 62’), Koke (Kondogbia, 79’), Lemar (Barrios,62’); Griezmann y Morata (Correa, 79’).
RCD Mallorca: Rajkovic; Maffeo, Nastasić (Antonio Sánchez, 46’), Valjent, Copete, Jaume Costa; Baba, Morlanes (Amath, 55’), Dani Rodríguez; Ángel (Kang In Lee, 55’) y Abdón (Muriqi, 55’).
