Real Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Mallorca at the Bernabéu, continuing their strong push for the La Liga title. While the scoreline suggests a tight affair, the match saw Madrid dominate possession and create a plethora of chances, but a combination of resolute Mallorca defending and profligacy in front of goal kept the game tense until the final whistle.
The lone goal arrived early in the second half, courtesy of a spectacular strike from Aurélien Tchouaméni. The French midfielder unleashed a powerful, dipping effort from outside the box, leaving Mallorca’s goalkeeper, Predrag Rajković, with no chance. The goal was a moment of brilliance in what had been a frustrating evening for Madrid’s attack.
Before Tchouaméni’s intervention, Madrid had struggled to break down a well-organized Mallorca side. Vinícius Júnior, a constant threat, was closely marked and found it difficult to find space. Jude Bellingham, usually a key creative force, was relatively subdued, although he did contribute to the overall control of the game. Rodrygo, leading the line in the absence of the suspended Vinicius Júnior, worked hard but lacked the cutting edge needed to convert opportunities into goals.
Mallorca, despite spending much of the game defending, posed a threat on the counter-attack. Cyle Larin, leading their attack, caused problems with his pace and physicality. However, Madrid’s defense, marshalled by Antonio Rüdiger and Nacho, remained relatively solid, limiting Mallorca’s clear-cut chances. Thibaut Courtois, back in the starting lineup after a lengthy injury layoff, had a relatively quiet evening but made a crucial save in the first half to deny Larin and preserve Madrid’s clean sheet.
The game wasn’t without controversy. There were appeals for penalties on both sides, but the referee waved them away. Mallorca, in particular, felt aggrieved by a challenge on Vedat Muriqi late in the game, but VAR upheld the referee’s decision.
Carlo Ancelotti made several substitutions in the second half, introducing players like Brahim Díaz and Luka Modrić to try and inject more creativity into the attack. However, Mallorca remained resilient, and Madrid were unable to add to their lead.
Ultimately, Real Madrid secured a valuable three points, maintaining their position at the top of the La Liga table. While the performance wasn’t as fluent as some of their previous outings, the victory demonstrated their ability to grind out results even when not at their best. For Mallorca, the defeat was a disappointing outcome, but they can take heart from their disciplined defensive performance and their ability to frustrate Madrid for long periods.