It was a frustrating moment yesterday as Real Madrid failed to secure all the 3 points in their opening Spanish Laliga match. Though the Galacticos played well, Mallorca proved too stubborn to allow the UEFA Super Cup winners to defeat them at home.
In the 13th minute of the game, Rodrygo scored the opening goal after receiving an assist from Vinicious Jr. In the 45th minute of the game, a Mallorca player was booked on a yellow card, and just 8 minutes into the 2nd half of the game, Vedat Muriqi got a goal with a header after Daniel Rodriguez supplied a super corner kick and both teams leveled to a 1-1 scoreline.
Football legend Luka Modric was introduced into the game by Carlo Ancelloti the Real Madrid tactician, after he discovered that things needed to be changed as the match was taking a solid shape.
Three substitutes for Real Madrid also came on later when results were not coming forth. They are Lucas Vazquez, Brahim Diaz, and Arda Gular while Dani Carvajal, Vinicious Jr, and Jude Bellingham came off the field of play. Even with the substitution, Mallorca were still very much into the game as they stood firm, not giving up on all the practice of Real Madrid. In the 97th minute of the game, Ferland Mendy was shown a straight red card by the center referee Cesar Soto after a brutal foul on a Mallorcan player.
Statistics of the match:
- Ball Possession: Mallorca 33%, Real Madrid 67%
- Shots on target: Mallorca 5, Real Madrid 4
- Shots off target: Mallorca 5, Real Madrid 6
- Goal Attempts: Mallorca 12, Real Madrid 13
- Corner Kicks: Mallorca 8, Real Madrid 7
- Crosses: Mallorca 24, Real Madrid 18
- Blocked Shots: Mallorca 2, Real Madrid 3
- Goal Keeper’s Saves: Mallorca 3, Real Madrid 4
- Fouls Committed: Mallorca 11, Real Madrid 6
- Offsides: Zero for both teams
- Goal Kicks: Mallorca 10, Real Madrid 7
- Throw-ins: Mallorca 16, Real Madrid 18
- Attacks: Mallorca 79, Real Madrid 146
- Dangerous Attacks: Mallorca 51, Real Madrid 73
With this result, Real Madrid is 13th on the Laliga table while Mallorca is on the 9th position.
Looking at their head-to-head, Madrid has always had the upper advantage and with their new signing-Kylian Mbappe, fans of the club were looking up to the World Cup winner with much expectations from him yesterday but the reverse was the case as the French man was unable to get a goal in that match.
Despite being ticked as the favorite in that match, Real Madrid dominated possession but struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. Mallorca’s equalizing goal came in the second half and Real Madrid was too vulnerable in defense as Mallorca gained full confidence to go all the way to win the game but it was just a draw. With the Galatico’s performance yesterday still raising concerns about replicating excellent performances displayed in last season, they still have tough fixtures ahead of them and will need to regroup, find their rhythm, and stay very competitive in the title race. The team’s blending when it comes to gathering breaking forth abilities and getting the goals for the team will need to be revisited by Ancelloti to enable him to make the right decision when it comes to blending everyone to fit in situations like this.
Real Madrid will be having another Laliga fixture against Real Valladolid on Sunday, August 25th, 2024. After which they will face Las Palmas on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
As fans await patiently for the European champions to get back to their winning ways in the Spanish Laliga title race, the club is seen to have a variety of talented players who are willing to give their best and get back to winning way.
