NEW DELHI:
Antonio Rudiger
secured a crucial 1-0 victory for
Real Madrid
against Real Mallorca with a decisive header from a corner in the 78th minute in a tightly contested match. The win temporarily propelled Los Blancos three points clear at the top of La Liga.
The Santiago Bernabeu witnessed a stern defensive challenge from Mallorca, twice hitting the woodwork during the encounter. Vinicius Junior marked his return from injury as
Carlo Ancelotti
's side struggled to break through the resilient Mallorca defense.
Rudiger's match-winning goal came from a well-delivered corner by
Luka Modric
, settling a match where Madrid faced challenges in creating clear scoring opportunities. The victory allowed Madrid to capitalize on set pieces, echoing their previous success against Alaves.
Reflecting on his goal,
Rudiger
expressed his joy, stating, "I scored last season (against Mallorca) and this year again. I'm very happy because it was an important goal and an important three points for us."
Coach Ancelotti acknowledged the team's need for set pieces in such matches, saying, "We lacked some freshness and accuracy in the final third, but we won because of a well-taken set piece. There are games like today's in which dead balls can give you an advantage."
Despite missing key defenders due to injuries and suspension, Madrid extended their unbeaten streak to 18 matches across all competitions. Ancelotti's tactical adjustments, including deploying midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni in defense, showcased the team's adaptability.
Vinicius' return to the starting lineup added attacking options, although the Brazilian forward faced resistance from Mallorca's determined defense, notably from Pablo Maffeo.
Madrid's top goalscorer Jude Bellingham had early chances, but Mallorca's Antonio Sanchez came closest to scoring in the first half, hitting the underside of the crossbar. Mallorca continued to pose threats, with Samu Costa's low drive striking the post in the second half.
Vinicius was substituted in the 60th minute for Brahim Diaz, who nearly doubled the lead with a diving header saved by Predrag Rajkovic. The Brazilian's absence did not hinder Madrid's determination as Rudiger's header secured the three points.
Real Madrid's victory puts them in a favorable position at the top of La Liga, with second-place Girona facing
Atletico Madrid
later in the day. The focus now shifts to Barcelona, who will visit Las Palmas on Thursday in a bid to maintain their title challenge.
(With inputs from AFP)
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