Preview: CD Atletico Baleares vs Atletico Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

Atletico Madrid will be aiming to book their spot in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey when they take on CD Atletico Baleares in the round of 32 on Wednesday night.

The Red and Whites have won the Copa del Rey on 10 previous occasions, with their last success in the famous tournament coming in 2012-13.

Match preview

Baleares have previously spent time in the Segunda Division - Spain's second tier - although they have not operated at that level since 1963.

Balearicos currently play their league football in Spain's fourth tier, and the home side will enter this match off the back of a 3-1 defeat to Terrassa, with the result leaving them in second spot in their domestic table, three points ahead of third-placed Barcelona B.

Luis Blanco's side have had to win two matches to book their spot at this stage of the 2025-26 Copa del Rey, overcoming Gimnastic and then Espanyol, beating the latter 1-0 last time out, so the team have already secured a La Liga scalp this term.

Baleares have previous when it comes to reaching the Copa del Rey round of 16, having been present at that stage on three occasions, including in 2021-22.

Atletico, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back 2-1 win over Valencia in Spain's top flight, with the result leaving them fourth in the La Liga table, boasting 34 points from their first 17 matches, which has left them nine points off division leaders Barcelona.

The Red and Whites have won nine of their last 11 matches in all competitions, including a 3-2 success over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on December 9, with the result leaving them eighth in the overall table with two games left.

Atletico are the fourth-most successful side in Copa del Rey history, having won the competition on 10 previous occasions, with their last triumph in the tournament coming in 2012-13.

Simeone's side will view La Liga and the Champions League as their two main priorities this season, but the Copa del Rey does provide the team with an excellent chance to land a trophy.

Atletico will be wary of what Baleares did to Espanyol in the previous round, but it would be a major shock if the away team did not triumph on Wednesday night.

CD Atletico Baleares Copa del Rey form:

CD Atletico Baleares form (all competitions):

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Atletico Madrid form (all competitions):

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Team News

Baleares have not reported any injury concerns ahead of Wednesday's cup fixture.

Jaume Tovar has been in excellent form this season, scoring 13 times in 17 appearances, and the 27-year-old will again feature in the final third of the field.

Jofre Cherta has two goals and one assist to his name this season, meanwhile, and the Spaniard is also set to feature in an attacking area against Simeone's side.

As for Atletico, Alex Baena, Jose Gimenez and Marcos Llorente were all missing against Valencia, and the trio are also set to be unavailable for selection here.

Head coach Simeone will ring the changes for this match, with Clement Lenglet, Robin Le Normand, Javi Galan, Johnny Cardoso and Antoine Griezmann among those set to come into the starting side.

Julian Alvarez should be among those rested, but there could be a spot in the final third of the field for Alexander Sorloth, who has five goals to his name this term.

CD Atletico Baleares possible starting lineup:

Rivas; Perez, Taffertshofer, Castell, Pol, Morillo; Miguelito, Bonet, Cherta; Tovar, Bejarano

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:

Musso; Molina, Lenglet, Le Normand, Galan; Simeone, Cardoso, Barrios, Almada; Griezmann, Sorloth

We say: CD Atletico Baleares 0-3 Atletico Madrid

Baleares are capable of making this a testing match for Atletico, and the visitors might have to be patient on Wednesday, but we are fully expecting Simeone's side to advance into the next round of the tournament.