Real Madrid continued their perfect start to the 2022/23 season after running riot against 13th placed Mallorca on Sunday in Matchday 5 of La Liga.
The current league and UCL champions were under pressure from Barcelona’s last night’s victory against lowly Cadiz and Karim Benzema’s absence from the squad for today. Despite getting 1-0 down in the first half, Ancelotti’s men packed a massive punch as they soared through Mallorca scoring incisively to make it a 4-1 rout.
Real dominated possession for most parts of the first half but were not clinical in their efforts which they later compensated for by conceding from an in-form Vedat Muriqi. Being unmarked, Muriqi rose above everyone defending and attacking a set-piece from Kang Lee before heading home his third goal in four matches.
Mallorca went a bit into their shell after scoring employing the tactic of ‘park the bus’ and allowed Real Madrid the ball with the chances.
It was not long before Los Blancos found the equaliser from a sensational goal from Fede Valverde in added time of the first half. The Uruguayan drove through with a phenomenal run after picking a pass from Dani Ceballos in his own half, covering most of the field and popping in an outrageous goal from just outside the box. Some may claim it to be a contender for the ‘Goal of the Season.’
A nervy came along for the home side in the 65th minute as Mallorca’s Clement Grenier dribbled exquisitely past Rudiger and Alaba, setting up an open scoring chance for Antonio Sanchez who pulled his shot wide.
Mallorca tried to hold a compact defence as they were content with a point but a moment of magic from Real’s starting Brazilian duo did the job in providing Los Blancos the lead for the first time during the afternoon. Rodrygo drove through the Mallorca defenders before passing the ball to Vini near the goal and the latter kept his cool and delicately shot the ball past the opposing goalkeeper Rajkovic.
From here on, it was all Real Madrid as they were the ones creating the chances and taking them. Real made it 3-1 in the 89th minute as Rodrygo dribbled past a weary Mallorca defence before sending the ball into the net and it was as easy as it was.
The insurance goal couldn’t quench Real’s hunger as they came haunting again from a Toni Kroos free-kick. New signing Antonio Rudiger got his first goal for the club as he thumped home the final one for Real Madrid just before the referee signalled the final whistle.
