Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Mallorca1 - 1Real Madrid

sportsmole.co.uk, 18 August 2024, 21:39
Real Madrid failed to win their opening match of the 2024-25 La Liga campaign on Sunday evening, with the reigning champions being held to a 1-1 draw by Mallorca.

Carlo Ancelotti's side made the breakthrough in the 13th minute of the contest, with Rodrygo curling a brilliant effort into the far corner of the net after Vinicius Junior had found his teammate with a clever flick.

Los Blancos were unable to kick on in the first period, though, and Mallorca secured a deserved leveller in the 53rd minute of the contest.

A corner from Dani Rodriguez did not appear to be causing too much trouble inside the Real Madrid penalty box, but Vedat Muriqi came from nowhere to thump a header past Los Blancos goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and level the scores.

Mallorca had two golden chances to score a second in the latter stages through Antonio Sanchez, but his first effort was just wide of the post, before the attacker struck over the crossbar moments later.

Real Madrid were reduced to 10 men in the latter stages of the fixture, meanwhile, following a poor challenge from Ferland Mendy on Muriqi.

It proved to be a frustrating night for Kylian Mbappe, with the France international failing to build on the goal that he struck on his Los Blancos debut in the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta BC last week.

In the end, though, Mallorca were well worth their point, with the home side having 11 attempts during a positive performance on the opening weekend of the new campaign.

MALLORCA VS. REAL MADRID HIGHLIGHTS

Rodrygo goal vs. Mallorca (13th min, Mallorca 0-1 Real Madrid)

Real Madrid make the breakthrough in the 13th minute of the contest, with Rodrygo finding the far corner after Vinicius had flicked the ball towards his teammate.

It was a wonderful curling effort from the Brazilian.

Vedat Muriqi goal vs. Real Madrid (53rd min, Mallorca 1-1 Real Madrid)

Mallorca level the scores in the 53rd minute of the La Liga contest, as Muriqi rises highest inside the Real Madrid penalty box to head a corner from Dani Rodriguez into the back of the net.

Muriqi has now scored 28 La Liga goals for Mallorca, and he was not going to be stopped there after wrestling his way past some Real Madrid defenders.

Kylian Mbappe chance vs. Mallorca (70th min, Mallorca 1-1 Real Madrid)

Opportunity for Mbappe to send Real Madrid back into the lead, but the Frenchman's low effort from inside the penalty box is saved by Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif.

It has not quite happened for the France international tonight.

Antonio Sanchez chance vs. Real Madrid (87th min, Mallorca 1-1 Real Madrid)

Sanchez has a big chance to win it for Mallorca, but the attacker fires his effort just wide of the post following a smart piece of attacking play from the hosts.

Ferland Mendy red card vs. Mallorca (97th min, Mallorca 1-1 Real Madrid)

Real Madrid are reduced to 10 men in the final stages of the contest, as left-back Mendy flies into Muriqi and gets absolutely nowhere near the ball.

MAN OF THE MATCH - RODRYGO

Mallorca deserve huge credit for their performance throughout the 90 minutes, but it was a true team display from the hosts rather than any players putting in excellent performances worthy of winning this award.

Rodrygo was the best player on the pitch on Sunday evening, making the breakthrough with an excellent curler into the far corner of the net.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian had two successful dribbles and finished with a pass success rate of 90%, proving to be his team's most productive player on what was a frustrating night for the reigning champions.

MALLORCA VS. REAL MADRID MATCH STATS

Possession: Mallorca 35%-65% Real Madrid

Shots: Mallorca 11-13 Real Madrid

Shots on target: Mallorca 5-4 Real Madrid

Corners: Mallorca 8-7 Real Madrid

Fouls: Mallorca 11-7 Real Madrid

BEST STATS

WHAT NEXT?

Real Madrid will be aiming to record their first victory of the 2024-25 La Liga campaign when they welcome Real Valladolid on August 25, but they will be missing Mendy through suspension due to his red card late on against Mallorca.

Los Blancos will not be adding any more players to their squad before the end of the transfer window, while there will also not be any departures, with David Alaba expected back before the end of the year and Eduardo Camavinga due to return next month.

Mallorca, meanwhile, will look to build on their excellent opening-weekend result when they head to Osasuna on August 24.

Top News

22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Monaco vs. Brest (Friday, 6.00pm) The first game in Ligue 1 since the final international break of 2024 will see Monaco welcome Brest to the Stade Louis II on Friday night. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly told Mykhaylo Mudryk that he is still in their first-team plans ahead of the January transfer window. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has reportedly not yet made a full recovery from the knock he suffered prior to the international break. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Legendary striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed he was close to joining Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2012. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Xabi Alonso will hope that his Bayer Leverkusen side can return to winning ways when they welcome strugglers Heidenheim to BayArena in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney gives Romeo Montague a run for his money with wife Coleen revealing he writes her love poetry. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Six places separate Wolfsburg and Union Berlin in the Bundesliga table ahead of Saturday's gameweek 11 match at the Volkswagen Arena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund have already fallen behind in the title race and will at least aim to stay within touching distance of the Champions League qualifications spots when they welcome Freiburg to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A crunch clash at the bottom sees Heracles and RKC Waalwijk go head to head at the Asito Stadium on Saturday evening in gameweek 13 of the Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Stuttgart sit a disappointing 11th in the Bundesliga table before welcoming cellar-dwelling VfL Bochum in Saturday's gameweek 11 action at the MHPArena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will both be available for Saturday's Premier League away meeting with Everton. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 talksport.com West Ham have sounded out former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic as a potential replacement for Julen Lopetegui, talkSPORT understands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening.