CD Atletico Baleares are set to welcome Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night in the Copa del Rey round of 3. The hosts will be facing one of Spain’s most decorated clubs. The fourth-tier hosts aim to extend an already memorable cup journey against elite opposition.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid are arriving as firm favourites. They will be looking for a smooth and comfortable route into the last 16. While domestic and European ambitions dominate Diego Simeone’s season, the Copa del Rey still offers a realistic chance for them to add silverware this season.
¡𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐒 para hoy! 🤍💙
— Atlético Baleares (@atleticbalears) December 17, 2025
🆚 @Atleti
🕖 19:00hs.#GlòriaATB #CopaDelRey pic.twitter.com/Ea7Ovt8ET8
The hosts are coming into the tie without any reported injury concerns. This would allow Luis Blanco to select from a full squad. Despite a recent 3-1 league defeat to Terrassa, the Balearic side remain second in their domestic standings. Jaume Tovar has been prolific with 13 goals this season. He should lead the attack, while Jofre Cherta is also expected to feature in advanced areas. Having already knocked out Espanyol earlier in the competition, confidence remains high within the camp.
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Atletico Madrid will travel without Alex Baena, Jose Gimenez and Marcos Llorente. All of them are set to miss out again. Diego Simeone is expected to rotate his squad. Several regular starters should be returning to the starting lineup. Clement Lenglet, Robin Le Normand, Javi Galan, Johnny Cardoso and Antoine Griezmann are all in contention to start. Julian Alvarez is likely to be rested. That could open the door for Alexander Sorloth to spearhead the attack.
Expectations are tilted toward a scoring affair given Atletico Madrid’s attacking pedigree and the gulf in quality between the clubs. Atletico often produce multiple-goal games. Betting analysis suggests that they have cleared the 2.5-goal mark in a significant share of recent outings.
The visitors’ strikers consistently create and convert chances. Whereas, the underdog hosts will have to defend against more potent attackers than they typically face domestically. Historical patterns in cup ties between mismatched opponents have leaned toward higher combined goal tallies, supporting the over 2.5 goals line.
Alexander Sorloth has been one of Atletico Madrid’s more consistent scorers this season. He has already notched several goals across competitions. His role as a central attacking outlet for Simeone’s side, especially when rotation opens opportunities in cup fixtures. His finishing threat makes him a clear danger against lower-tier defenders. He also often operates in positions where chances are created. Thus, justifying backing him to score at any point in the match.
Antoine Griezmann’s goal-scoring contributions have come at important moments for Atletico in recent fixtures. This includes strikes in top-flight matches. A recent La Liga win saw Griezmann score the winning goal, showing his ability to deliver in front of goal. In a game where Atleti are expected to dominate possession and create early opportunities, selecting Griezmann as a first-goal scorer at enhanced odds offers value. Especially if he starts and finds space in advanced positions.
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Given the quality gap, Atletico Madrid should control this Copa del Rey tie from kickoff to finish. Their depth and experience should help them sustain attacking pressure and limit the hosts’ chances. Sorloth and Griezmann are both capable of influencing the scoreboard. Simeone is also likely to bring on fresh attacking options if needed.
A clean-sheet away win appears the most realistic scenario. Recent statistical models and match forecasts point toward a professional, efficient performance from Atletico Madrid. A 3-0 scoreline reflects their offensive strength and defensive solidity against a lower-league side.
soccer Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.
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