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January 4, 2024
Real Madrid kicked off the year with a narrow 1-0 win over Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu, thanks to Antonio Rudiger’s late header. Carlo Ancelotti’s squad welcomed back Vinicius Junior for the first time in nearly two months. Still, Rudiger made the difference, scoring his first La Liga goal since April. This victory extends Real’s lead in the La Liga standings to three points in front of Girona, who play Atletico Madrid later.
The match could have been more uneventful, with both teams struggling to create clear chances. Surprisingly, Mallorca came closest to scoring, hitting the woodwork twice. Despite controlling possession, Madrid appeared disjointed, often misplacing passes and failing to capitalize on opportunities.
The first significant chance for Madrid came from Jude Bellingham, whose flicked header was saved by Mallorca’s goalkeeper, Pedrag Rajkovic. Upon returning from injury, Vinicius missed two opportunities quickly, displaying signs of rustiness.
Before halftime, Federico Valverde shot wide after a promising run. At the same time, Mallorca’s Antonio Sanchez saw his header hit the crossbar from a Dani Rodriguez cross.
After the break, Mallorca struck the post again with a long-range effort from Samu. Real Madrid finally threatened with a curling shot from Rodrygo, forcing another diving save from Rajkovic. Still, a rebound hit the inside of the post before being cleared.
Then, in the 79th minute, Rudiger made his mark by leaping to meet Luka Modric’s inswinging corner, guiding the ball into the far corner and sealing the win for Real Madrid. This late goal proved crucial, leaving Mallorca’s manager, Javier Aguirre, and his players disappointed.
While Jude Bellingham has garnered much attention for his goal-scoring prowess in his advanced role behind the two wingers, today’s match highlighted a pressing issue: the need for a focal point in attack. With two agile and smaller forwards facing a robust, physical defensive setup, Real Madrid struggled to find a compelling target.
Joselu was brought in as a backup target man. Upon his introduction, he immediately contributed to a play that nearly led to a goal when Brahim Diaz hit the post after setting up Valverde, who then found Rodrygo in space. Bellingham’s excellent form has masked that Madrid has yet to adequately replace Karim Benzema. With ongoing speculation around Kylian Mbappe, it seems unlikely that Los Blancos will secure a true No. 9 shortly.
Raillo was a defensive stalwart for Mallorca, serving as the backbone of their back five. As the leader on the pitch, he effectively united the efforts of his fellow defenders to secure a hard-fought point. Unlucky not to emerge with the desired result, Raillo delivered a standout performance crucial for his team’s defensive resilience.
Real Madrid: Lunin 5, Carvajal 5, Rudiger 7, Tchouameni 7, Garcia 6, Valverde 6, Kroos 6, Modric 6, Bellingham 6, Rodrygo 6, Vinicius 5.
Subs: Diaz 6, Joselu 7, Vazquez 6, Ceballos 5.
Mallorca: Rajkovic 7, Maffeo 6, Gonzalez 7, Raillo 8, Nastasic 7, Van der Heyden 5, Sanchez 6, Samu 7, Rodriguez 7, Larin 6.
Subs: Lato 6, Mascarell 6, Prats 6, Darder 6, Ndiaye 6.
20′: CLOSE! Modric slips a pass to Vinicius, who cuts left but drags his shot just wide of the far post.
38′: GOOD SAVE! Vinicius unleashes a fierce shot after a brilliant skill, but Rajkovic quickly denies him with a strong save.
42′: OFF THE BAR! Mallorca comes closest to scoring as Antonio Sanchez heads Dani Rodriguez’s cross off the underside of the crossbar!
54′: OFF THE POST! Mallorca hits the woodwork again as Samu’s speculative effort from distance strikes the foot of the post!
69′: HOW DID THAT NOT GO IN?! Joselu lays it off for Valverde, who finds Rodrygo. His attempt for the far corner is saved by Rajkovic, and Diaz’s follow-up header hits the inside of the post and bounces across the goal line!
79′: GOAL! Antonio Rudiger heads in from Modric’s inswinging corner, finally breaking the deadlock and overcoming Mallorca’s strong defense!
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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