Real Madrid will go to the first international break of 2025/26 with their homework done in LaLiga EA Sports. On Saturday, the 'merengue' team added their third victory of the season against Mallorca (2-1) in a match with many chances in both areas.

Xabi Alonso made three adjustments to his lineup compared to the match against Oviedo (0-3). Éder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Vinicius Jr. back to the XI instead of Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Carvajal and Rodrygo Goes.

Things did not go well for the Whites from the start, with a goal disallowed and another conceded, the first of the season that Thibaut Courtois has conceded. However, the team reacted before the break.

Quick reaction from Real Madrid after Muriqi's goal

Madrid opened the scoring in the 5th minute with a good finish by Kylian Mbappé from a pass filtered by Alexander-Arnold. However, the goal was disallowed for offside of the '10' at the time of the pass from the English full-back.

The Whites controlled the match without too much difficulty, but Mallorca surprised in a corner from the left served by the former FC Barcelona player Pablo Torre. Vedat Muriqi finished in an unorthodox way, but the ball took a strange effect that left Courtois without reaction.

In 18 minutes, there was a surprise at the Bernabéu with the Balearic team in the lead. A result that would only last 19 minutes, as Madrid would equalize in the 37th minute after a good collective action finished by Arda Güler. 

The Turk only had to push the ball into the empty net, thanks to the assist from Dean Huijsen, who brought down a cross from the edge of the area on the goal line. A minute later, Vinicius made it 2-1 with a crossed left-footed shot, culminating a lethal counter-attack orchestrated by Fede Valverde.

In a flurry, the 'merengues' regained control of the match and the score. Mbappé would score again before the break, but again in offside, this time much clearer than the previous action.

Madrid held on to the narrow lead with difficulties

Both teams took to the field without changes after the break. The process of the match remained intact, with Mallorca retreating in their own half and attentive to go out quickly on the counter to try to surprise the local defense.

The Whites shook the net again in the 53rd minute, thanks to a goal from Güler after a rebound in Leo Román. After a couple of minutes of review, the main referee José María Sánchez, warned by the VAR, reviewed the play and decided to disallow the goal for a handball by the Turkish midfielder.

The third disallowed goal of the night gave Jagoba Arrasate's side a second wind. Alexander-Arnold and Álvaro Carreras had two miraculous interventions in their area to avoid goals that seemed certain, mainly the left-back, who saved a shot from Samu Costas on the goal line.

Xabi Alonso moved the bench with the income of Dani Ceballos, Dani Carvajal and Rodrygo Goes, in addition to Brahim Díaz, but Madrid maintained its offensive lethargy until the final stretch.

In the 88th minute, Arrasate sent the Barça youth player Jan Virgili to the field, being this the official debut in the first division of the 19-year-old winger. In addition to this, nothing major happened in the last minutes and Real Madrid took the victory, their third in as many presentations in LaLiga. On Sunday, Barça and Villarreal could catch them in the lead if they defeat Rayo and Celtra, respectively.

Match details: Real Madrid 2-1 RCD Mallorca

  • Real Madrid, 2: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold (Carvajal, min. 72), Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Valverde, Güler (Ceballos, min. 72); Mastantuono (Brahim, min. 68), Vinicius (Rodrygo, min. 72) and Mbappé (Gonzalo, min. 90+5).
  • RCD Mallorca, 1: Leo Román; Mateu Morey (Sánchez, min. 78), Raíllo, Valjent, Kumbulla, Lato (Mojica, min. 78); Morlanes (Jan Virgili, min. 87), Darder, Pablo Torre (Costa, min.64); Mateo Joseph (Asano, min. 87), Muriqi.
  • Goals: 0-1, Vedat Muriqi (min. 18); 1-1, Arda Güler (min. 37); 2-1, Vinicius Jr. (min. 38)
  • Referee: José María Sánchez Martínez. He cautioned Éder Militao and Dean Huijsen for Real Madrid. He disallowed two goals by Kylian Mbappé for offside and another by Arda Güler for a previous handball.
  • Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid).
  • Incidents: match corresponding to matchday 3 of LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26