Atlético Madrid Aims for Vital Win Against Struggling Las Palmas

Gran Canaria, Spain – Atlético Madrid will face off against Las Palmas on Saturday in a crucial LaLiga match that could impact both teams’ seasons. Currently sitting in third place with 63 points, Atlético is vying for a victory to keep pace with the league leaders, which is vital as the season nears its conclusion.

As the Rojiblancos prepare to take on Las Palmas, they find themselves trailing the league leaders by seven points. A win would also mark Atlético’s first three-game winning streak in LaLiga since January. Last season, Atlético suffered a defeat in this fixture, making this match particularly significant.

Las Palmas, however, will be eager to secure three points themselves as they currently sit in the relegation zone, 18th in the league with only 29 points. The team achieved a much-needed victory against Getafe last week, which ended a long winless run in 2025. Coach Diego Martínez‘s squad can hardly afford to drop points if they wish to climb out of the relegation zone.

Diego Martínez’s side has faced challenges at home, picking up only a handful of points this season, second fewest only to Real Valladolid. The poor home record has directly contributed to their current standing, leaving them just a point adrift of safety. However, star forward Fábio Silva, who has netted 10 goals this season, hopes to continue his impressive form after being praised by Atlético’s coach, Diego Simeone.

“Fábio has great physical strength,” Simeone said. “He makes a big effort in everything he does in attack. Any coach who has him appreciates that.”

For the matchup on Saturday, Atlético Madrid is expected to field a nearly full-strength squad. Ángel Correa’s five-game suspension has ended, and both Samuel Lino and Rodrigo De Paul have returned to training after missing past matches due to injury.

Simeone may consider notable changes to his striker partnership, testing Alexander Sørloth alongside Julián Alvarez. Although Antoine Griezmann has been a regular enough fixture in the lineup, his recent contributions—one goal and one assist since February—have drawn scrutiny.

In midfield, Rodrigo De Paul is expected to start on the bench as Simeone likely continues to pair Koke and Pablo Barrios in central positions at Estadio Gran Canaria. Conor Gallagher is set to make his fourth consecutive league start. Simeone has also praised defenders Clément Lenglet and Robin Le Normand, who are anticipated to start in a refreshed backline.

The anticipated Atlético lineup will be Oblak in goal, supported by Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, and Galán in defense. The midfield will consist of Barrios, Koke, Gallagher, and Giuliano Simeone, with Alvarez and Sørloth up front.

As both teams prepare for a vital match, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Las Palmas’s hopes of survival and Atlético’s aspirations for a top finish as the season approaches its climax.