Real Madrid returned to winning ways in La Liga with a 1-0 victory at Mallorca on Saturday evening.
Aurelien Tchouameni’s superb strike from 25 yards settled the scores to move Los Blancos 11 points clear at the top of La Liga.
Barcelona can cut that gap back to eight points with victory at Cadiz later on Saturday, but the Spanish title increasingly appears to be heading back to the Santiago Bernabeu.
How the game unfolded
There wasn’t a smidgen of action in either box until the 31st minute when a Mallorca corner sailed to Antonio Raillo at the far post, forcing an instinctive save out of Andriy Lunin with his header.
Almost immediately down the other end, Jude Bellingham thundered a fierce strike off the crossbar as Madrid heeded the warning from their hosts.
Lunin had spared Madrid’s blushes in the first half but nearly had egg on his face himself when he spilled a cross under no pressure, with Ferland Mendy helping him to retrieve the loose ball before a Mallorca attacker came steaming in to poke home.
Straight out of the blocks after half-time, Bellingham drove right through the heart of the Mallorca defence and let fly, with his effort this time denied by a low save from Predrag Rajkovic.
And with their next attack, Madrid went ahead. Tchouameni – starting back in midfield after filling in at centre-back – unleashed a thunderbolt from 25 yards, and his shot took a nick off Manu Morlanes and flew right into the top corner, giving Rajkovic no chance.
Rajkovic was called into action again to keep out Brahim Diaz, who wriggled his way past several trailing Mallorca legs before taking a punt from just inside the box.
The Serbian came to Mallorca’s rescue once more when Brahim failed to bulldoze his way across the line after meeting Luka Modric’s cutback, sweeping away the ball off the line.
Mallorca were still threatening on the counter and from set pieces, with Madrid rather grateful Matija Nastasic’s free header from a Sergi Darder free-kick bouncing off the top of his skull and harmlessly behind.
The hosts were at sixes and sevens when Madrid won the ball back high up the pitch, with Fede Valverde rounding Rajkovic but having his attempt blocked off the line by Nastasic.
Lunin had to be alert to push aside Darder’s dipping half-volley from distance as the visitors went in search of a late equaliser.
With one last attack, Lunin spilled a high ball straight to Vedat Muriqi, who somehow fired wide with the goal gaping. Madrid were let off the hook and the final whistle sounded seconds later.
GK: Andriy Lunin – 6/10 – Kept Madrid afloat with a series of important saves at crucial times, but his inability to claim crosses nearly cost his side at the last.
RB: Lucas Vazquez – 6/10 – Never afraid to charge forward on the overlap, even if this did leave Madrid susceptible to counter attacks.
CB: Antonio Rudiger – 7/10 – Sometimes had to sprint to cover the space vacated by Vazquez but for the most part was untroubled.
CB: Nacho Fernandez – 7/10 – Similarly endured a quiet evening outside of a couple of quick Mallorca attacks.
LB: Ferland Mendy – 7/10 – Completely shut down his flank. Mallorca didn’t get a sniff down Madrid’s left side.
CM: Aurelien Tchouameni – 8/10 – The difference-maker at both ends of the pitch. Far more comfortable back at the base of midfield and came up with the decisive opening goal.
CM: Fede Valverde – 6/10 – Popped up all over the pitch and should have had a goal when he skipped past Rajkovic before having his shot cleared off the line.
CM: Luka Modric – 7/10 – Controlled the pace of the game so effortlessly in midfield. Applauded off by Mallorca fans when substituted late on.
AM: Jude Bellingham – 7/10 – Brought the energy and fight needed to break down a stubborn Mallorca, coming so close to another goal for his collection with his 20-yard sighter cannoning off the crossbar.
AM: Brahim Diaz – 7/10 – Where Bellingham fought tooth and nail to lead the Madrid charge, Brahim was all about elegance and precision, though undoubtedly should have scrambled in a shot from mere yards out just before being substituted.
CF: Joselu – 6/10 – Linked play well and provided a focal point, but was of little threat to Mallorca in their own box.
Substitutes
SUB: Vinicius Junior (63′ for Brahim) – 6/10
SUB: Eduardo Camavinga (63′ for Bellingham) – 7/10
SUB: Dani Carvajal (86′ for Modric) – N/A
SUB: Eder Militao (90′ for Vazquez) – N/A
Subs not used: Kepa Arrizabalaga (GK), Mario de Luis (GK), Fran Garcia, Dani Ceballos, Toni Kroos, Arda Guler, Rodrygo
Manager
Carlo Ancelotti – 7/10 – Madrid should have scored more in their dominant spell in the second half and though they were in danger towards the end, they were deserving of their victory.
Player of the match – Aurelien Tchouameni
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90 Mins
