Real Madrid: In a thrilling encounter on Wednesday, Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 1-0 win against Mallorca, with Antonio Rüdiger emerging as the match-winner. The German defender scored with a powerful header from a corner kick delivered by Luka Modric in the 78th minute, propelling Real Madrid to the summit of La Liga at the close of the first half of the season.
Rüdiger, who celebrated his first goal of the season, expressed his joy after the match, acknowledging the importance of the three points. “I scored against them last year, and this year too. I am happy because it was an important goal and three crucial points for us. This team has something special, a good mix of young and experienced players,” said Rüdiger.
The victory took Real Madrid’s tally to 48 points, maintaining their lead at the top of the table. Girona, their closest pursuer, also secured three points by defeating Atlético de Madrid 4-3 in a dramatic encounter, reaching the same point total. Meanwhile, Barcelona, currently fourth with 38 points, is set to play against Las Palmas on Thursday.
Real Madrid once again demonstrated their ability to secure late wins, reminiscent of their 1-0 triumph over Alavés in the final match of 2023. The return of star winger Vinicius Júnior, who played for 60 minutes after a month and a half out due to injury, added an extra dimension to the team’s attack.
Vinicius Júnior proved to be a constant threat, testing Mallorca’s goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic on several occasions. Rajkovic’s saves denied Vinicius Júnior’s attempts to open the scoring before Rüdiger’s decisive goal.
Mallorca, under the management of Mexican strategist Javier Aguirre, saw their four-match unbeaten run come to an end, leaving them in the 14th position with 18 points.
Real Madrid’s next challenge will be in the Copa del Rey as they face Arandina on Saturday in the Round of 32, followed by a trip to Saudi Arabia to compete in the Supercopa de España against Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, and Osasuna.
In other La Liga matches, Celta de Vigo secured a late 2-1 victory over Betis, lifting them out of the relegation zone to the 17th position with 16 points. Granada celebrated their second win of the season, defeating Cádiz 2-0 and climbing to the 19th position with 11 points, while Cádiz dropped to 18th place with 15 points.
As the La Liga season progresses, the competition intensifies, promising fans more excitement and surprises in the battles for the top spots and survival in the league.
Real Madrid:
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