Real Madrid stumble at Mallorca as Asensio misses penalty

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  • Alex KirklandESPN FC

Marco Asensio had a penalty saved as Real Madrid have been crushed 1-0 at Mallorca on Sunday in one other blow to their LaLiga title hopes.

A Nacho Fernandez personal objective put Mallorca forward within the thirteenth minute. The defender rose with ahead Vedat Muriqi on the close to put up to go Dani Rodriguez’s cross previous goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who had changed the injured Thibaut Courtois within the warm-up.

With an hour performed, Asensio’s penalty kick was saved by Mallorca’s Predrag Rajkovic — after the keeper had introduced down Vinicius Jr. — to sentence Madrid to a defeat which dangers them falling additional behind Barcelona within the title race.

JUMP TO: Best/worst performers | Highlights and notable moments | Postmatch quotes | Key stats | Upcoming fixtures

Rapid response

1. Well-drilled Mallorca scrapping their technique to security

Mallorca have been anticipated to spend this season preventing relegation after narrowly escaping the drop by a single level final marketing campaign. Instead, they have been punching significantly above their weight, and are actually driving excessive in tenth place with a wholesome 28 factors, halfway by means of the season. They’re forward of extra established rivals like Sevilla, Valencia, Celta Vigo and Espanyol, and this win over Madrid is the most recent for his or her assortment, following consecutive victories over Villarreal and Atletico Madrid again in November.

This was a hard-fought victory, with simply 26% possession, one shot on track and an xG of 0.2. Rajkovic’s penalty save from Asensio was the spotlight, however this was a victory for supervisor Javier Aguirre’s expertly coached again 5. At the opposite finish of the pitch, Muriqi — with eight league objectives this season — is a strong presence. The objective initially credited to him was later recognised as Nacho’s personal objective, however Muriqi is a ahead with the form of presence that unsettles even essentially the most skilled defenders.

Mallorca’s season will not be outlined by what they do in opposition to Madrid — wins within the final month in opposition to direct rivals Valladolid and Celta have been much more worthwhile — however this was a day their noisy followers will not overlook in a rush.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)

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2. Vinicius Jr. on dropping aspect of newest Mallorca battle

Another Madrid recreation with the highlight on Vinicius Jr., by means of no actual fault of his personal. A weird feud has grown between the Brazil ahead and Mallorca during the last yr, beginning with Madrid’s win at Son Moix final March — when he and Rodrygo each acquired bruising challenges from defenders Pablo Maffeo and Antonio Raillo — and continued on the Bernabeu final September, when Mallorca accused Vinicius of exhibiting opponents an absence of respect. This week, Raillo claimed Vinicius is not an acceptable position mannequin for youngsters.

The row was all the time going to boil over on the pitch, and so it proved, with a collection of working battles involving Vinicius all through the match. The first flashpoint got here inside 5 minutes, with Rodriguez’s problem on the Brazilian, and referee Alejandro Hernandez was known as upon to calm issues down. The crowd have been on their toes within the eighth minute when Vinicius introduced down Maffeo, and never lengthy afterwards the identical two gamers could possibly be discovered pushing and shoving at a nook.

At instances, Vinicius gave the impression to be attempting a bit too laborious, as in a single first-half try and dribble by means of the whole Mallorca defence. He went off at half-time complaining to referee Hernandez and holding the Madrid crest on his shirt as much as the house followers as he walked down the tunnel. The second half noticed Vinicius win the penalty that Asensio did not convert, and there was nonetheless time for an additional conflict with Raillo too. No Madrid participant could have felt this defeat extra.

3. Courtois damage comes at a nasty time

The alarm bells began ringing for Madrid even earlier than this recreation kicked off at Son Moix, when goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois felt a groin damage through the warm-up and needed to withdraw from the beginning XI, with Andriy Lunin, 23, coming in for his fifth league begin of the season.

Lunin is not a nasty goalkeeper. He stored two clear sheets in his 4 appearances when Courtois was out final October, and began in Madrid’s 3-1 Clasico win over Barcelona. But naturally, he is nowhere close to Courtois’ elite degree, and everyone is aware of it. The influence on the crew is not immediately associated to his goalkeeping capability in itself, as a lot because the lack of Courtois’ unbeatable aura.

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As we await the outcomes of checks to disclose how lengthy the Belguim worldwide can count on to be out, the short-term result’s a crew doubtlessly with out its two pillars of Courtois and Benzema — additionally absent right here — in addition to their greatest defender this season, Eder Militao. Next week’s Club World Cup is one factor, nevertheless it’s Madrid’s Champions League round-of-16 first leg with Liverpool in two week’s time which is on everybody’s minds.

Best and worst performers

BEST

Predrag Rajkovic, Real Mallorca. His penalty save from Asensio, diving low to his left, secured the win for Mallorca.

Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid. Kept going all through, regardless of the tough remedy he acquired.

Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid. His return from damage was the one excellent news on a nasty day for Madrid.

WORST

Marco Asensio, Real Madrid. A irritating return to Mallorca, in opposition to his former membership, culminating within the penalty miss.

Lee Kang-in, Real Mallorca. Had a really quiet afternoon.

Nacho Fernandez, Real Madrid. It was unfortunate, however his personal objective gave Mallorca the three factors.

Highlights and notable moments

Nacho was ultimately credited with an personal objective for the opener.

Marco Asensio missed an excellent likelihood to degree the scores.

After the match: What the gamers/managers mentioned

Real Madrid defender Nacho: “It was very difficult. They defended very well all game. We lacked a bit of luck, but they worked hard, and it’s true that we weren’t clinical with our chances. It’s a shame. We knew it was going to be difficult, with the kick-off time, we didn’t have much rest, Mallorca are having a good season, we knew it would be tight, and obviously when they went ahead it got even more complicated.”

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On his personal objective: “It happens in football, I went for it with my head and it went in. We had the penalty, a clear chance, we couldn’t put it away, it’s a shame, three lost points.”

On Vinicius Jr.: “I think there’s an atmosphere with this Vinicius issue now that doesn’t help anyone, Vinicius, football, the fans… I think we all have to enjoy football, it’s a beautiful sport, and leave the controversy and silliness to one side.”

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti: “They scored early and then it was difficult, a lot of fouls, the game stopping a lot, players going down, but the team played until the end, we deserved to draw, we missed the penalty, we created chances in not much space, but we played our game.We need more mobility, getting in behind, it was hard to play in between the lines. The penalty was a ball in behind. But when the defence is deep it’s hard to get in behind.”

Key stats (supplied by ESPN Stats & Information analysis)

– Nacho scored his second profession personal objective (first since 2018 vs. Real Betis.)

– Real Madrid have missed three of eight penalties taken in LaLiga this season (two saved.)

– Mallorca goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic made his eighth penalty kick save (from 23 PKs confronted) within the final 4 seasons throughout all membership competitions. Seven of these have been with Reims.

– Before the sport, Real Madrid had scored 10 objectives within the eightieth minute or later. The most in LaLiga this season.

– Four of Real Madrid’s seven all-time LaLiga losses on the highway vs. Mallorca have been by rating of 1-0 (1987, 2001, 2019, 2023.)

– It’s been six hours and half-hour since Mallorca final conceded a objective at dwelling.

Up subsequent

Mallorca: Things do not get a lot simpler because the aspect journey to Sevilla on Feb. 11 earlier than internet hosting Villarreal the next weekend.

Real Madrid: A “break” for the Club World Cup in Morocco! Egypt’s Al Ahly are the semifinal opponents on Feb. 8, with a possible last in opposition to Brazilian aspect Flamengo or Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal on Feb. 11. Madrid then return to a LaLiga dwelling recreation in opposition to Elche on Feb. 15.