Mallorca’s Last-Minute Victory Over Real Madrid Shakes Title Race
In an electrifying LaLiga encounter, Mallorca edged out Real Madrid with a dramatic 2-1 win, sealing their fate with a late goal from Vedat Muriqi. This pivotal victory not only pulled Mallorca out of the relegation zone but also hindered Real Madrid’s efforts to close the gap on the league leaders, Barcelona.
Despite Real Madrid’s dominance in possession during the opening stages, they faced a resilient Mallorca defense. The early part of the match saw Madrid pressing for a breakthrough, with Antonio Rudiger threading a ball to Kylian Mbappée. However, Mallorca’s defense regrouped quickly, blocking a potential shot and later thwarting another opportunity when Mbappée attempted to assist Manuel Angel, whose header was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Leo Roman.
The first half progressed with a series of missed chances for Madrid, with Mbappée repeatedly threatening the Mallorca defense. His efforts included an attempt that forced Roman into a crucial save, as well as a curled shot that narrowly missed the target.
As the clock approached the 42nd minute, the tide turned unexpectedly in favor of the hosts. Pablo Maffeo found space on the right wing, delivering a precise cross that was met by Morlanes. From just inside the box, Morlanes controlled the ball before guiding it past Andriy Lunin, marking Mallorca’s first shot on target and giving them a crucial lead just before halftime.
The second half began with Real Madrid seeking a swift response. Alvaro Arbeloa introduced Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior to add firepower to their attack. However, Mallorca’s defense remained steadfast, aiming to exploit any counter-attacking opportunities.
Despite a missed chance from Eder Militao, who failed to convert a header from a set-piece, hope briefly returned for Madrid. In the 88th minute, Militao redeemed himself by leaping high to direct a corner from Trent Alexander-Arnold into the net, leveling the score at 1-1 and appearing to avert a disastrous outcome for the visitors.
However, the drama was far from over. In the dying moments of the match, as injury time commenced, Mallorca staged a brilliant counterattack. Mateo Joseph set up Vedat Muriqi, whose powerful shot found the back of the net, clinching an unexpected victory for Mallorca.
This triumph marked only Mallorca’s second win in their last eight matches and their first against a top-seven opponent this season. The defeat leaves Real Madrid vulnerable, potentially falling seven points behind in the ongoing title race, as their five-match winning streak came to an abrupt end.
Leo Román of Mallorca earned the title of Man of the Match, having played a key role in keeping his team in the contest with several vital saves throughout.
