Muriqi Strikes Early, Madrid Responds Strongly
Madrid faced Mallorca in a noon kickoff where the Spanish capital’s side looked unsettled from the first whistle. Benzema was absent, and the lineup rotation by Carlo Ancelotti meant some players wore different roles. The visitors from the Balearics pressed with a disciplined block, aiming to slow Madrid’s pace and force mistakes. The result felt crafted to test Real Madrid’s rhythm rather than overwhelm them—an early mismatch that hinted at a longer, tougher afternoon than fans expected. The opening minutes were a study in patient build-up and controlled aggression as Madrid tried to unlock a stubborn Mallorca defense, while the visitors trusted their compact shape and quick breaks (Source: DAZN Spain, 2022).
Mallorca’s approach read like a fortress at the moment Real Madrid sought to advance. The Mallorca coach Aguirre organized a shield at the back that stifled the channels, forcing Madrid to search for solutions through side areas and set pieces. Madrid began with a deliberate tempo, a criticism that often accompanies this style, but Mallorca’s vertical transitions kept danger alive. A prickly mood grew when a sharp Muriqi intervention punctured Madrid’s resolve, signaling that this would be a rare, tense contest rather than a routine stroll to victory (Source: DAZN Spain, 2022).
Valverde emerged to lift the tempo just as the first half neared its halfway mark. He collected a ball near the touchline, charged into space, and absorbed contact from multiple defenders before delivering a left-foot strike that restored parity for Madrid. The equalizer shifted the dynamic: suddenly, Madrid pressed higher, pushing Mallorca deeper into their own half and squeezing the life from the Balearic threat. The Bernabeu crowd sensed a momentum swing, even as the visitors defended with stubborn pride (Source: DAZN Spain, 2022).
The match then tightened again as Ancelotti reshuffled Madrid’s engine room. Modric’s influence briefly resurfaced in the middle, while Carvajal and the wing play shifted to punishing Mallorca on the flanks. The visitors’ coach responded by adapting his midfield composition, but Madrid’s persistence began to tilt the balance. Despite opportunities in the final third, Mallorca remained stubborn, with Aguirre’s side refusing to yield the initiative without a fight. The game grew into a physical duel, marked by smart pressing and disciplined spacing (Source: DAZN Spain, 2022).
Before the interval, Madrid created a couple of sharp openings that hintled at a bigger spell of pressure to come. Yet the clock ticked toward halftime with both teams level and the sense that the next moment could decide the tempo. Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo combined on several occasions, testing Mallorca’s resolve and keeping the match under constant scrutiny. The end of the first act brought a sense of anticipation: if Madrid could sustain pressure, they might convert the pressure into a decisive lead (Source: DAZN Spain, 2022).
After the break, Madrid looked more purposeful. A sequence in which Rodrygo threaded a clever ball to Vinicius Jr. culminated in a second goal that silenced any lingering doubt in the home stands. The timing was critical: a late push from Madrid amplified their dominance and forced Mallorca onto the back foot. Rudiger added a final flourish with a powerful finish in stoppage time, sealing a victory that felt like more than just three points given the evening’s earlier fragility (Source: DAZN Spain, 2022).
In the end, Real Madrid collected a comprehensive win that underscored their resilience and depth. Seven wins from seven matches in all competitions highlighted their consistency, even as opponents tested their concentration and structure. The win reinforced Madrid’s status as a top challenger in the league, laying a solid foundation before a key away fixture in the coming round. It was a result that spoke to both the squad’s quality and Ancelotti’s capacity to adapt across fixtures and periods of the season (Source: DAZN Spain, 2022).
Data Sheet
4 – Real Madrid: Courtois, Vazquez, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Ceballos; Rodrygo, Vinicius, Muriqi. Coach: Ancelotti. Substitutions: Modric, Hazard; Nacho, Mendi, Camavinga, Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez.
1 – RCD Majorca: Rajkovic; Valjent, Nastasic, Raillo; Maffeo, Ruiz de Galarreta, Battaglia, Dani Rodriguez, Costa; Lee Kang-In, Muriqi. Coach: Aguirre. Substitutions: Battaglia, Grenier, Dani Rodríguez, Antonio Sánchez, Prats, Muriqi, Kang-In Lee.
targets: 0-1, Muriqi (min.35), 1-1, Valverde (min.47), 2-1, Vinicius (min.72), 3-1, Rodrygo (min.88), 4-1, Rudiger (min.90)
Judge: Figueroa Vazquez. Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu.
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