Real Madrid’s La Liga rollercoaster continued in full swing. Despite three disallowed goals — two chalked off for Mbappé offside, one from Arda Güler for handball — the home side grinded out a 2–1 victory over a stubborn Mallorca side at the Bernabéu. Now three wins from three on the league season.
Match Flow & Turning Points
- Mallorca stunned the crowd early with Vedat Muriqi’s header from a corner in the 18th minute, silencing expectations.
- Real answered quick and sharp: Arda Güler equalized with a neat header in the 37th minute, and a minute later Vinícius Júnior slotted home the go-ahead goal with a dazzling solo move on his left foot.
- VAR fracas continued: A goal by Güler in the second half was canceled for handball. The fans held their breath again as Madrid sought insurance—a controversial call in a contentious game.
- Defensive grit sealed it: Álvaro Carreras, Madrid’s new signing, made a critical goalline clearance that preserved the win and capped a gritty finish.
Clutch Crunch Take
This was one for the books — a win forged through persistence, individual spark, and timely defending. Madrid’s rhythm may have paused under pressure, but they proved their metronomic form continues to march on. Mallorca brought fight and moments of brilliance, but Madrid’s ability to shrug off hits and keep results rolling remains unmatched.
(Imaged credits: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image cropped)