Mallorca 0-1 Real Madrid:Crucial win thanks to a Reyes free kick gives the Whites a share of the top spot
0 - 1
Mission accomplished. Real Madrid will leave Mallorca with three points in hand thanks to a an absolutely beautiful free kick. The Whites had their fair share of chances to open up a bigger lead against a scrappy Mallorca who fought until the final whistle. Sergio Ramos withdrew in the second half due to injury. The second consecutive League victory gives the Madridistas a share of the top spot in the League table. 
Capello was finally able to use the same back line that played during the second half of the Betis match. Youth teamer Torres got his fourth consecutive start and played along the left wing, Sergio Ramos occupied the right flank, and Helguera and Cannavaro were paired up as centre backs. From the midfield up, everything was as expected with so many players injured. Diarra and Gago joined forces in the centre midfield, Reyes and Robinho took the wings, and Higuaín and Van Nistelrooy led the attack.Mallorca came out of the starting blocks the hungrier side and quickly made their way to the visitors' third, but Ibagaza's cross was cleared by the defence. The islanders had little trouble moving the ball as Madrid tried to get organised on the pitch. In minute 7, Maxi López was the next to fire a warning shot after a give-and-go with Ibagaza. Casillas made the save with ease.
The match was at a virtual standstill and neither side could move with fluidity. Gago and Diarra tried their best to control the midfield, while Reyes and Robinho switched sides with each other, but nothing seemed to work. More plays were being stopped than created by the 22 men on the pitch.
Two Madridista chancesCapello and Manzano did what they could from their respective benches to make the match more pleasant to watch. The players weren't doing their share to warm up a frigid night until the Madridistas had two chances which brought the crowd to its feet -following a wayward Van Nistelrooy shot from outside the box-. First, Higuaín skillfully contolled a long ball from Diarra only to find himself directly in front of the keeper Moyá. Then, Ramos' header off the resulting corner kick hit the crossbar of the Mallorca goal.
They were the best scoring opportunities of the first half, and things went right back to normal soon thereafter. There was little pace to the match, but standing out was Jonás, who was a constant threat along the left flank. Casillas was forced to make an agile save on one of the islander's shots moments before halftime. Maxi López, Barinas, and Higuaín all had their goes, but none of their long range shots were cause for concern. The teams headed to the dressing rooms with 45 more minutes to decide the match.
Brilliant Reyes goalReal Madrid took the pitch for the second half with their sights set on putting the game in the books. Van Nistelrooy immediately received a Helguera pass which resulted in a corner kick, but Diarra was unable to header the ball on target from inside the small box. It was the third obvious chance the Madridistas had to score. As Raúl Bravo had replaced Sergio Ramos, who left the field with a niggled ankle, Torres moved to the right wing and quickly adjusted to the change. No matter what side Capello plays the youngster on, he continues to impress the Italian boss. Real Madrid wanted the victory and went right after it. The lone goal of the match came off a free kick provoked by the scorer himself. Reyes' perfect technique sent the ball curling away from the keeper and into the corner of the net, giving the Whites three crucial points. Capello's men held their ground and De la Red had yet another clear scoring chance. Real Madrid will again be put to the test next Saturday at Villarreal.
MATCH SUMMARY:
0 – MALLORCA: Moyá; Héctor, Ramis, Nunes, Navarro; Jonás, Basinas, Jordi López, Varela (Jankovic 80’), "Caño" Ibagaza (Arango 71’); Maxi López.
1 – REAL MADRID Casillas; Ramos (Raúl Bravo 56’), Helguera, Cannavaro, Torres; Reyes, Diarra, Gago, Robinho; Higuaín (De la Red 86’) and Van Nistelrooy.
GOALS:
0-1, min. 77: Reyes free kick.
REFEREE: Fernández Borbalán (Andalusian Referee Association). Ibagaza (24’), Ramos (43’) and Diarra (66’) booked.
MATCH SUMMARY IN Video:
Matchday 19 of the Primera Liga played at the Ono Estadi. Real Madrid wore black armbands in honour of the death of Vicente Boluda Crespo, father of Club Vice-President Vicente Boluda Fos.
0 – MALLORCA: Moyá; Héctor, Ramis, Nunes, Navarro; Jonás, Basinas, Jordi López, Varela (Jankovic 80’), "Caño" Ibagaza (Arango 71’); Maxi López.
1 – REAL MADRID Casillas; Ramos (Raúl Bravo 56’), Helguera, Cannavaro, Torres; Reyes, Diarra, Gago, Robinho; Higuaín (De la Red 86’) and Van Nistelrooy.
GOALS:
0-1, min. 77: Reyes free kick.
REFEREE: Fernández Borbalán (Andalusian Referee Association). Ibagaza (24’), Ramos (43’) and Diarra (66’) booked.
MATCH SUMMARY IN Video:
Matchday 19 of the Primera Liga played at the Ono Estadi. Real Madrid wore black armbands in honour of the death of Vicente Boluda Crespo, father of Club Vice-President Vicente Boluda Fos.
Match report by Luis Navarro
Photos by Daniel Sastre Special correspondents to Mallorca
Translation by Matthew Goltz
Photos by Daniel Sastre Special correspondents to Mallorca
Translation by Matthew Goltz
posted by khalidmrrakchi@hotmail.com @ 10:46 PM
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