La Liga result – Mallorca claim shock win over Real Madrid in fresh title boost for Barcelona

Real Madrid fell apart in a 1-0 loss to Mallorca, giving Barcelona a five-point cushion at the top of La Liga ahead of their match later tonight.

Thirteen minutes in, Mallorca managed a counter that saw Dani Rodriguez cross the ball to Vedat Muriqi, whose looping header clipped Nacho before curving over Andriy Lunin and into the back of the net.

After going behind, countless fouls were committed by both teams, and the visitors’ frustration was evident as they tried to find an equaliser.

At the half-time whistle, several players in white got into the referee’s face and Dani Ceballos was promptly booked for dissent. It was one of ten yellow cards that was issued in the ninety minutes with players from both sides abundantly getting aggressive and fouling one another.

After sending wave after wave of attacks in the second half, Madrid earned a penalty when Predrag Rajkovic clipped a rushing Vinicius Junior. The keeper, however, rectified his mistake by saving Marco Asensio’s poor penalty as the woes for Carlo Ancelotti’s side continued.

Mallorca will hope to take the positives from the win against their upcoming match against Sevilla, while Madrid head to the Club World Cup with the possibility of league leaders Barcelona extending the gap to eight points before they come back to face Elche.

TALKING POINT: MISERABLE MADRID

Their starting keeper getting injured during the warm-up. An own goal. A missed penalty. It was not a good day at the office for Real Madrid. After slipping up against Real Sociedad exactly one week ago with a draw, this loss means Los Blancos slip further out of reach in the title race.

Mallorca’s game plan was evident from the first moments, defend in a 5-4-1 and counter, and Madrid could not cope despite the home side not actually being that great in the final third. Madrid also let Mallorca’s excessive fouling get to them, leading them to pick fights with the referee and breaking up play, all things that fell right into the hands of Mallorca.

With Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard out and Vinicius Junior constantly being fouled or bullied off the ball, Carlo Ancelotti could not do much when he looked to the bench for attacking options in the second half. The experience of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and David Alaba was not enough to turn around the dire display.

Their one shot on target being Marco Asensio’s penalty summed up Madrid’s performance, and with Vinicius Junior out in their next game due to his yellow, Ancelotti will have to find a creative way to get this team back to the form they were in last season if they want to defend their league title.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: PABLO MAFFEO

Mallorca did not have one stand out performer, with the team successfully limiting Madrid as a defensive unit. However, Maffeo did well to limit Vinicius when going one v one against the Brazilian. With five clearances, two interceptions, six tackles, and 12/20 duels won, he was key in protecting the right hand side.

Predrag Rajkovic read Asensio’s penalty well, but him committing the foul that lead to the pen in the first place means he only gets an honourable mention.

PLAYER RATINGS

MALLORCA: Predrag Rajkovic 7, Matija Nastasic 6, Antonio Raillo 6, Giovanni Gonzalez 6, Jaume Costa 6, Pablo Maffeo 7, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta 6, Iddrisu Baba 6, Dani Rodriguez 6, Lee Kang-In 7, Vedat Muriqi 6… SUBS: Antonio Sanchez 6, Rodrigo Battaglia 6, Clement Grenier N/A.

REAL MADRID: Andriy Lunin 5, Eduardo Camavinga 6, Antonio Rudiger 6, Nacho 5, Daniel Carvajal 6, Dani Ceballos 6, Aurélien Tchouameni 7, Federico Valverde 6, Vinicius Junior 7, Rodrygo 7, Marco Asensio 5… SUBS: David Alaba 7, Luka Modric 6, Toni Kroos 6, Mariano Diaz 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

13′ – GOAL! MALLORCA 1-0 REAL MADRID: IT’S BEEN COMING! Mallorca finally get their crossing right, as Rodriguez gets the ball right to the Muriqi who leaps to get his head on it. Nacho is alongside him, and it’s the Real Madrid defender who gets the final touch as the ball loops into the back of the net before Lunin can react.

52′ – GREAT CHANCE FOR MALLORCA: After some great passing, a flick on sends Lee underway. He races on the left and aims to find a team mate as he’s running into the box but the pass is just out of reach. There is that final ball letting the hosts down again!

58′ – CLASH IN THE BOX LEADS TO A PENALTY: Vini chases down a ball and collides with Rajkovic in the box, who goes down gripping his hand. The Real Madrid players want a penalty, and they get one as the referee does not hesitate. Can the tide turn for Madrid here?

55′ – DANGEROUS FREE-KICK FOR MADRID: The visitors win a foul right near the edge of the box. Ceballos takes, and his curling pass does not meet anyone and drifts wide. Or maybe it was a shot. Not sure. Either way, a wasted chance.

60′ – THE PENALTY HAS BEEN SAVED! This is just not going Madrid’s way. Asensio steps up, takes a stuttering run up, and Rajkovic easily reads that it is going to his left. The Mallorca players surround their keeper as they celebrate, while the Spaniard puts his hands on his face in disappointment.

73′ – VINI ON THE BALL: The Madrid winger cannot catch a break. He receives the ball near the touchline and is immediately fouled. It’s happened several times, and it’s allowing Mallorca to break up play.

90+8′ – WIDE! Ball comes in from Kroos, and Rudiger heads it just wide! The centre-back falls to his knees in disbelief! That was extremely close!!!

KEY STATS

• Mallorca have kept a clean sheet in 8 of their 20 games, only Barcelona (14) have done this more often in La Liga this season.
• Vinicius Junior won 10 fouls, the highest tally for a Real Madrid player in one La Liga game since Isco v Real Betis in August 2013 (10) [Opta].