Real Madrid appeared headed for a disappointing loss at Son Moix, a fate that ultimately seemed unavoidable. Despite having pulled level against Mallorca, the home side dramatically regained the lead with mere minutes remaining in the match.
Coach Alvaro Arbeloa opted for several squad rotations for the away fixture in Palma, notably benching key player Vinicius Junior. Nevertheless, Los Blancos squandered at least two clear scoring opportunities in the first half, both expertly thwarted by Mallorca’s goalkeeper, Leo Roman, who denied a returning Kylian Mbappe on each occasion.
Mallorca Takes Lead, Militao Responds on Return
These missed chances proved costly as Manu Morlanes calmly converted to put Mallorca ahead in the first half. Their advantage held for 50 minutes until Eder Militao, making his first appearance in five months, spectacularly headed home an equalizer, marking a significant moment in his comeback.
Muriqi Strikes Back Immediately to Restore Mallorca’s Lead
Real Madrid briefly seemed to gain momentum following their equalizer, but their renewed hope was quickly dashed. Mallorca immediately snatched back the lead in stoppage time, with Vedat Muriqi expertly finishing inside the penalty area to make it 2-1.
This late turn of events could have profound implications for the La Liga title race. Should Barcelona secure a victory at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Real Madrid would face a daunting seven-point deficit, a gap that could prove insurmountable this late in the season.
