Real Madrid slip up at Son Moix as Mallorca claim crucial victory in relegation dogfight | OneFootball

Mallorca 2-1 Real Madrid

Real Madrid have suffered a potentially crucial slip-up in the La Liga title race, as they fell to defeat against Mallorca at Son Moix.

Alvaro Arbeloa chose to make several changes to his side for the trip to Palma, with Vinicius Junior one of the players left on the bench. Nevertheless, Real Madrid should have scored twice in the first half, but Mallorca goalkeeper Leo Roman expertly denied the returning Kylian Mbappe on both occasions.

Real Madrid and Mbappe were made to pay for those misses as Mallorca took the lead just before half time. Pablo Maffeo picked out Manu Morlanes with a fine cross, and the midfielder finished coolly beyond Andriy Lunin.

It stayed that way until half time, during which Arbeloa would have had to deliver a huge team talk to rally his side to a comeback. But there was little response in the opening 15 minutes of the second period, which prompted the introductions of Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and the returning Eder Militao.

And it was Militao that dragged Real Madrid back level in the 88th minute as he headed home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner. It was a special moment for the defender, who had been out since November with a torn hamstring, although it proved to be in vain in the end as Mallorca netted the winning goal in stoppage time. The visitors were all at sea in defence, and that allowed Mateo Joseph to slip in Vedat Muriqi, who slammed home from inside the penalty area, which sparked jubilant scenes inside Son Moix.

Real Madrid could be out of La Liga title race this evening

It’s a huge win for Mallorca, who leapfrog Elche to move outside of the relegation places. As for Real Madrid, they will fall seven points behind Barcelona in the La Liga title race if the Catalans defeat Atletico Madrid later in the day.