Real Madrid wins in Mallorca before its big week

Real Madrid wins in Mallorca before its big week

Ancelotti's men secure their cushion at the top of the League before facing Manchester City and FC Barcelona

MADRID, 13 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Madrid beat RCD Mallorca (0-1) on matchday 31 of LaLiga EA Sports held at the Son Moix Stadium, a step ahead of the leader at the gates of a big week, where the quarterfinals will be played against Manchester City in the Champions League and, next Sunday, the league ruling against FC Barcelona.

Carlo Ancelotti's men delivered on a demanding pitch, with rotations thinking about the visit to the Etihad after this week's 3-3 draw, with a goal from Aurelien Tchouameni at the start of the second half. It was when Madrid decided to look for the goal and it only took them three minutes to find it and emerge as the leader of Mallorca.

The locals, with the hardship of losing the Copa del Rey final and the physical and emotional wear and tear, had their chances, but Lunin was fine. The Balearic Islands will have to continue fighting to avoid the relegation zone, while the Madrid team did not get lost, with 11 points left in the absence of Barça also playing this Saturday, with the option of sentencing the League next Sunday in the Clásico.

The first half in Son Moix did not have much history. As expected, the home team maintained a good defensive structure without leaving a single gap for the whites, a Madrid that did not have much spark in search of its chances either. Ancelotti's team had the ball, long possessions, but they did not enjoy a good last pass with the rival well closed inside.

The visiting team did not have a good one on one either, missing Vinícius and Rodrygo or, simply, needing something more from Brahim and Joselu, always tangled in the Balearic tangle. Near the break the match threatened to get lively or at least the only two chances came, one for each side.

Mallorca first warned in a corner kick that Antonio Raíllo finished off and that Lunin cleared with problems. Madrid's shot came straight after, with one of the few that managed to penetrate the capital's team inside, until a shot with all the intention of Bellingham that crashed into the crossbar.

In the locker room, the League leader's motto could well have been to look for the rival goal without thinking too much about it and the Englishman tried the shot as soon as the match resumed. After three minutes, Tchouameni sent the ball into the net in another shot from the front, deflected by the local defense. Mallorca suddenly lost its composure and Madrid forgave the sentence with Brahim and Joselu.

Aguirre saw his team collapse and made three changes, including Abdón who was received as a hero after running out of minutes in the lost Cup final against Athletic Club. The local idol had it as soon as he entered and, taking advantage of the back-and-forth, Ancelotti doubled the bet by bringing in Vinícius, just after Brahim failed to convert a called goal.

Madrid lacked the judgment on a field where they lost last year and Darder had the tie with a tremendous volley. The midfielder, another of Aguirre's changes, was the one who put Muriqi's finishing option most into play, who had the last one in a clash with Lunin, but the 0-1 did not move. A hard-fought victory for the whites before looking ahead to a big week.

--RESULT: RCD MALLORCA, 0 - REAL MADRID, 1. (0-0, at half-time).

RCD MALLORCA: Rajkovic; Maffeo (Radonjic, min.78), Gio González, Raíllo, Nastasic, Lato; Morlanes (Darder, min.59), Samú Costa (Mascarell, min.59); Antonio Sánchez (Abdón Prats, min.59), Dani Rodríguez (Larin, min.86) and Muriqi.

REAL MADRID: Lunin; Lucas (Militao, min.90), Nacho, Rüdiger, Mendy; Tchouaméni, Valverde, Modric (Carvajal, min.86), Bellingham (Camavinga, min.64); Brahim (Vinícius, min.63) and Joselu.

0 - 1, min.48, Tchouámeni.

--REFEREE: Sánchez Martínez (C.Murciano). He cautioned Raíllo (min.16) and Muriqi (min.82) for Mallorca. And Lunin (min.85) in Madrid.

--STADIUM: Mallorca Son Moix.