Mallorca Mug Real Madrid in Shocking Upset: Mbappé Goes Missing as Title Race Wobbles
Real Madrid crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Mallorca, with Manu Morlanes and Vedat Muriqi scoring to stun the visitors despite a late Éder Militão leveller. Kylian Mbappé flattered to deceive in his first start post-injury, as the squad lacked spark amid a gritty performance from the hosts. The result piles pressure on the title race and ahead of a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
Mallorca Mug Real Madrid in Shocking Upset: Mbappé Goes Missing as Title Race Wobbles
Picture this: Real Madrid, the galacticos who were purring before the international break, roll into Son Moix and get turned over 2-1 by a scrappy Mallorca side fighting relegation. Manu Morlanes nicked one just before half-time, Éder Militão nodded a desperate equaliser in the 88th, only for Vedat Muriqi to smash home a stoppage-time dagger. It's the kind of result that has Álvaro Arbeloa's lot staring at the abyss, especially with Barcelona lurking and a Champions League date with Bayern Munich looming in three days.
A Performance as Flat as a Pint Left Out Overnight
Los Blancos came back from internationals full of beans after five wins on the spin, but against Mallorca, it was like someone swapped their boots for flip-flops. No flair, no zip – just a laboured slog that screamed 'mid-table mediocrity'. Kylian Mbappé got his first start since February after shaking off that knee knock, leading the line with Vinicius Junior rested. But the French wizard? More like a damp squib. Outfoxed by keeper Leo Román early on, then vanished faster than a streaker at half-time once Vinny came on. Blame doesn't land solely at his door – plenty of white shirts were off the pace – but it's another data point in the 'Madrid look lost with Mbappé' column.
Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga plugged the midfield gaps without Federico Valverde and co., but Camavinga watched Morlanes waltz through for the opener like he was at a museum. Arda Güler was the bright spark, whipping in chances his mates couldn't convert, while Trent Alexander-Arnold (yes, him at right-back) pinged a beauty for Militão's header before losing his man for the winner. It's comedy gold if you're not a Madridista.
Ratings Roast and What It All Means
Diving into the FotMob ratings, it's a tale of near-misses and what-ifs:
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GK Andriy Lunin (5.7): Not at fault for the first, frozen for the second.
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RB Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.3): Corner assist class, then a howler.
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CB Antonio Rüdiger (6.6): Solid on Muriqi mostly, nod to recent form.
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CB Dean Huijsen (7.0): Locked down his man, tidy on the ball.
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LB Álvaro Carreras (7.2): Snoozed on the opener, one-trick pony.
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RM Manuel Ángel (6.6): Energy yes, end product nah.
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CM Aurélien Tchouaméni (6.9): Steady, missed his partners.
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CM Eduardo Camavinga (6.9): Flair up top, asleep at the back.
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LM Arda Güler (7.2): Chance factory, finishers lacking.
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ST Brahim Díaz (6.5): Invisible, subbed sulking.
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ST Kylian Mbappé (7.3): Denied early, ghosted later.
Subs? Militão (7.2) back from injury and bagging one – hero stuff. Vinicius (6.2) sparked life but double-marked. Jude Bellingham (6.2) flat-packed, no magic.
Takeaways? Carreras won't be nailing down that left-back spot with Ferland Mendy or Fran García eyeing it. Camavinga, amid bench moans, gift-wrapped the goal – bench fodder again. Militão's return is a silver lining, though.
If Barca win later, that's seven points adrift. With Bayern next, Arbeloa's got a proper headache. Madrid's dream of silverware? Feels like a hangover now, lads.