Real Madrid - Mallorca, match summary of LaLiga

Real Madrid defeated RCD Mallorca (2-1) and is now the new leader of LaLiga. Xabi Alonso's pupils started behind on the scoreboard, but two goals, scored by Arda Güler and Vinícius, in just one minute were key to the comeback. Sánchez Martínez and VAR were also protagonists.

Xabi Alonso made three changes to the starting line-up compared to the match at Carlos Tartiere. Éder Militao and Alexander-Arnold regained their spots in the backline, while Vinícius returned to the starting eleven in place of Rodrygo Goes. Franco Mastantuono did keep his place, playing his second match as a starter since he arrived at the Madrid club.

Meanwhile, RCD Mallorca, which had accumulated 10 consecutive defeats at Bernabéu, got back two very important players: Manu Morlanes and Vedat Muriqi. Both, sent off against Barça in the first matchday, returned to Jagoba Arrasate's starting eleven.

Controversy from the first minute

Real Madrid did not take long to take the lead. In the 6th minute, Kylian Mbappé controlled a great previous pass from Alexander-Arnold with great class and finished by beating Leo Román with a very well-placed shot. However, the Frenchman, who had already celebrated his goal, experienced firsthand how VAR disallowed his goal for offside.

Minutes later, the broadcast showed all viewers a replay in which, supposedly, Mbappé was ahead by just millimeters. A replay that caused many doubts among Madridists.

As the minutes passed, Real Madrid began to take control of the match. Many of the attacks came down the left wing with Carreras and Vinícius creating superiority. However, Alexander-Arnold, with several of his trademark "bananas," was also very active in the opening minutes.

However, RCD Mallorca, in a very fortunate play, was the first to open the scoring. After a corner kick, Vedat Muriqi, who headed the ball with his back, managed to make it 0-1. The Bermellón team took the lead in the 19th minute in its first dangerous attack and after a goal by Mbappé that was still remembered by the Bernabéu crowd.

Immediate reaction from the leader

Real Madrid sought an immediate reaction to achieve the equalizer before halftime. Without letting up, the team led by Xabi Alonso kept attacking the Mallorca goal. However, RCD Mallorca, with almost all its players inside its box, felt quite "comfortable" defending the home team's attacks.

However, after the hydration break, the team completely changed its face. In the 37th minute, Arda Güler headed in a set piece in which Dean Huijsen played an essential role. But Real Madrid's outburst did not end there.

A minute later, Vinícius, after running several meters with the ball, set it up on his left foot to shoot to the far post of Leo Román. A truly great goal by the Brazilian, who keeps working to regain his level. In the blink of an eye, Real Madrid had already turned the match around.

Fede Valverde was close to increasing the lead with a long-range shot that went just wide of the post. Before halftime, Kylian Mbappé scored another goal, but again, it was disallowed for a very tight offside position. Two disallowed goals for the Frenchman in just 45 minutes.

VAR remained the protagonist...

Real Madrid started the second half with the same intensity. Xabi Alonso's instructions seemed clear: a third goal had to be scored as soon as possible. So it was, but Sánchez Martínez decided to disallow Arda Güler's goal.

After a great individual play by Franco Mastantuonto, the Argentine shot at Leo Román. The visiting goalkeeper parried the shot, a Mallorca defender cleared the ball against Güler, who put his arms forward due to inertia. The play ended with another rebound that the Turk took advantage of to score his brace and make it 3-1.

However, when the goal had already gone up on the scoreboard, Sánchez Martínez was alerted by VAR. From above, they told him to go see it on the monitor, that it could be disallowed. In the presence of Xabi Alonso, the referee did not even hesitate: 2-1 and play on.

Real Madrid, new leader of LaLiga

There was also time to suffer. After Güler's disallowed goal, RCD Mallorca could have scored with a shot from Samú Costa, but Álvaro Carreras, almost inexplicably, managed to clear the ball off the line.

The minutes passed and Xabi Alonso began to make substitutions to bring fresh legs onto the field. Brahim Díaz, Dani Carvajal, and Rodrygo Goes came on for Mastantuono, Arnold, and Vinícius.

Aurélien Tchouaméni also had a very positive match, as he keeps raising his level more and more. With much more confidence, the Frenchman covers almost the entire field. With Xabi Alonso, the holding midfielder looks set to become a very important player.

The match finally ended 2-1 in favor of Real Madrid thanks to goals from Arda Güler and Vinícius after the opening goal by Vedat Muriqi. The Whites, depending on what happens tomorrow in the matches of Villarreal CF and Barça, go to bed as leaders. After the break, Madridists will travel to Reale Arena to face Real Sociedad (09/13 at 4:15 p.m.).