Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Mallorca: Vinicius Jr and Arda Guler Steal the Show
Real Madrid got back to winning ways with a hard-fought victory against Mallorca. Arda Guler and Vinicius Jr turned the tide with quickfire goals, as Los Blancos overcame VAR drama and ruled out efforts to secure the three points.
The Spanish giants were still short of their best, but good value for a narrow victory to continue their undefeated startArda Guler and Vinicius Jr scored back-to-back goals within 60 seconds as Real Madrid overcame an early scare to beat Mallorca, 2-1. Los Blancos were dominant throughout, but had a trio of efforts narrowly ruled out.Madrid thought they had the lead early on when Kylian Mbappe raced through to turn Trent Alexander-Arnold's pass home, but the referee ruled his effort offside after a long VAR review. Mallorca responded in style, though, when veteran forward Vedat Muriqi headed home off a corner. Los Blancos equalized shortly before half time thanks to another piece of dead ball work. Alvaro Carreras floated a ball to Dean Huijsen at the far post, who nodded across to Guler to finish into an empty net. Less than a minute later, the home side were in the lead. Vinicius started and finished it with a weaving run, drop of the shoulder and calm finish into the bottom corner. It was almost three before half time, but Mbappe had another goal ruled out for a tight offside. They had another chalked off early in the second half, when the ball was adjudged to have stuck Guler's arm before he smashed home from close range. Los Blancos rotated heavily as the minutes waned, with Alonso toying with various combinations. Rodrygo enjoyed a bright cameo. Brahim Diaz made his case on the right. But it was otherwise a simple affair for Madrid, who were good value for the win. GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from the Santiago Bernabeu...
Vinicius Jr and Arda Guler Lead Los Blancos' Comeback
In a thrilling encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid showed their resilience as Vinicius Jr and Arda Guler stepped up when it mattered most. Their goals within a minute turned the game on its head and secured a crucial victory for Xabi Alonso's side.
VAR Drama and Disallowed Goals
Real Madrid had a rollercoaster of a game with three goals ruled out, including a disallowed effort from Kylian Mbappe in the early stages. The use of VAR added a layer of tension to the match, but Los Blancos kept their composure to eventually get the win.
Key Performers Shine
While Vinicius Jr and Arda Guler stole the headlines with their goals, other key performers also made their mark. Alvaro Carreras' delivery from set-pieces proved pivotal, and Dean Huijsen's aerial presence played a crucial role in Guler's equalizer.
Solid Defensive Display
Real Madrid's defense put in a solid shift to limit Mallorca's attacking threat, despite conceding from a corner. The backline remained composed under pressure, with players like Rodrygo and Diaz providing additional defensive support when needed.
Looking Ahead
With this hard-fought victory, Real Madrid maintains their unbeaten start to the LaLiga campaign. The depth in the squad was evident as Alonso rotated his players effectively, showcasing the team's strength in depth as they aim for more success in the season ahead.
