Mallorca lowers Real Madrid’s galactic soufflé
The champions did not go beyond a draw (1-1) in their league debut and Muriqi eclipsed Mbappé and company
MADRID, 18 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid drew (1-1) against RCD Mallorca this Sunday at the start of the 2024/25 LaLiga EA Sports season, a discreet debut for the champion, with flashes but little prominence in Son Moix, where the new vermilion ship finished even better.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men were unable to intimidate a Mallorca side that, with Jagoba Arrasate on the bench, was a wall, did not lose concentration for almost the entire 90 minutes and attacked with judgment, equalising the chances of the defending champions. Mbappé, Vinícius, Rodrygo and Bellingham were overshadowed by Vedat Muriqi, in an unexpected stumble by the ‘galácticos’ team to start with.
With the starting eleven that made it to the European Super Cup final on Wednesday, Real Madrid showed enough quality to go into the break with a 0-1 lead after 13 minutes from Rodrygo. There was plenty of firepower, the kind of forcefulness that Ancelotti calmly recognised after winning the first title of the campaign.
However, the new Mallorca soon began to look like the old Osasuna, with the signing of an Arrasate who made the Balearic team bite at Son Moix. Dani Rodríguez and Samu Costa also tried their hand at long-range shooting to start, but Madrid left their mark with a great run from Mbappé. The intensity on the pitch also heated up the match.
Sparks soon flew with Vinícius, but between the Brazilian, his compatriot Rodrygo and Mbappé, the Whites began to settle close to the rival goal. Thus, with Fede Valverde driving forward, with Jude Bellingham also there, the Madrid trident allied to drive the defense crazy in the 0-1.
Arraste’s Mallorca had begun to have doubts and Ancelotti’s men played long periods of possession. However, the home side had a final push before the break, with balls to Muriqi and the ‘Pirata’ came close to equalising, saved by Thibaut Courtois. The Kosovar player woke up and did not stop until he found the net.
Despite the Whites trying to play more in Mallorca’s half, Muriqi always made the most of the home side, until the 1-1 from a corner kick. In response, after a while without appearing, Mbappé offered something more and Greif had work to do in the Mallorcan goal. Modric’s entry also gave the Whites more clarity in attack, but Mallorca did not lower their intensity.
In his first match with the Balearic team, Johan Mojica convinced his new fans, who was a help against Rodrygo in the possible 1-2, just like Arrasate with his little play. The locals still had the final push to go for the win, with three good chances from Antonio Sánchez, a great tackle from Larin and a Muriqi who suffered a hard tackle from Mendy, a straight red card in stoppage time.
TECHNICAL SHEET.
–RESULT: RCD MALLORCA, 1 – REAL MADRID, 1. (0-1, at half-time).
–LINEUPS:
RCD MALLORCA: Greif; Maffeo, Raillo, Valjent, Mojica; Samu Costa, Mascarell (Copete, min.92), Darder (Morlanes, min.72); Asano (Larin, min.72), Muriqi and Dani Rodriguez (Antonio Sanchez, min.67).
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal (Lucas Vázquez, min.88), Rüdiger, Militao, Mendy; Tchouameni (Modric, min.63), Valverde, Bellingham (Arda Güler, min.88); Rodrygo, Mbappé and Vinícius (Brahim, min.88).
–GOALS:
0 – 1, min.13, Rodrygo.
1 – 1, min.53, Muriqi.
–REFEREE: Soto Grado (C.Riojano). He cautioned Maffeo (min.45+3) for Mallorca. He sent off Mendy (min.97) for Real Madrid.
–STADIUM: Estadi Mallorca Son Moix.