La Liga leaders Real Madrid gained a hard-fought win over Mallorca thanks to Antonio Rudiger’s late header.
Mallorca hit the woodwork twice as Antonio Sanchez’s header bounced off the underside of the crossbar on to the goalline, with Samu Costa also hitting the post for the visitors.
Those misses proved costly as Rudiger headed in from Luka Modric’s fine left-wing corner in the 78th minute.
Real, now unbeaten in 18 games in all competitions, are three points clear.
However, second-placed Girona will return level on points with Carlo Ancelotti’s side if they beat third-placed Atletico Madrid in the late game on Wednesday.
Rare Rudiger goal proves the difference
This was the first game since Ancelotti ended speculation linking him with the Brazil national team as he extended his Real contract, committing him to the club until at least 2026.
Ancelotti was boosted by the return of Vinicius Jr, playing his first club game in almost two months following a hamstring injury sustained on Brazil duty in November.
Vinicius twice had efforts saved by Predrag Rajkovic – one attempt from a tight angle and another strike from outside the penalty area.
But Mallorca, 14th in the table, twice hit the frame of the goal as they looked to gain a shock win.
England’s Jude Bellingham is the top scorer in La Liga this season with 13 goals, but his best attempt was a diving header from Modric’s cross which away goalkeeper Rajkovic jumped to save.
After Mallorca hit the post, Real dominated as they pushed for a fourth successive win in all competitions and their ninth in their past 10 games.
They should have gone ahead when Rodrygo’s shot was parried into Brahim Diaz’s path but the substitute hit the post with a diving header when faced with an unguarded goal only a few yards out.
But Diaz’s blushes were spared thanks to Rudiger’s goal, his first in La Liga since 11 September 2022 when he scored in a 4-1 victory over Mallorca.
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-2-2-2
- 13LuninBooked at 45mins
- 2Carvajal
- 18Tchouaméni
- 22Rüdiger
- 20GarcÃa
- 10ModricSubstituted forCeballosat 86′minutes
- 8KroosSubstituted forJoseluat 67′minutes
- 15Valverde
- 5Bellingham
- 11RodrygoBooked at 35minsSubstituted forVázquezat 86′minutes
- 7VinÃcius JúniorSubstituted forDÃazat 60′minutes
Substitutes
- 14Joselu
- 17Vázquez
- 19Ceballos
- 21DÃaz
- 24Güler
- 25Arrizabalaga Revuelta
- 30González
- 32Paz
- 34Carrillo
Mallorca
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Rajkovic
- 15MaffeoBooked at 70mins
- 20González
- 21RaÃllo
- 2NastasicBooked at 61mins
- 4Van der HeydenBooked at 1minsSubstituted forLatorre Gruesoat 45′minutes
- 18SánchezSubstituted forNdiayeat 83′minutes
- 8MorlanesSubstituted forMascarellat 73′minutes
- 12de Almeida Costa
- 14RodrÃguezSubstituted forDarderat 73′minutes
- 17LarinSubstituted forPratsat 73′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Latorre Grueso
- 5Mascarell
- 6Arias Copete
- 9Prats
- 10Darder
- 13Greif
- 19Llabrés
- 23Ndiaye
- 25Cuéllar
- 27López
- 32Fernández
- 33Luna
- Referee:
- Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz
- Attendance:
- 72,394
Live Text
-
Match ends, Real Madrid 1, Mallorca 0.
-
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 1, Mallorca 0.
-
Attempt blocked. Samú Costa (Mallorca) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Amath Ndiaye.
-
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Giovanni González.
-
Attempt missed. Matija Nastasic (Mallorca) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sergi Darder with a cross following a corner.
-
Corner, Mallorca. Conceded by Lucas Vázquez.
-
Attempt blocked. Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
-
Hand ball by Samú Costa (Mallorca).
-
Brahim DÃaz (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
-
Foul by Amath Ndiaye (Mallorca).
-
Foul by Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid).
-
Amath Ndiaye (Mallorca) wins a free kick on the right wing.
-
Substitution, Real Madrid. Dani Ceballos replaces Luka Modric.
-
Substitution, Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez replaces Rodrygo.
-
Attempt missed. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Luka Modric following a corner.
-
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Antonio RaÃllo.
-
Attempt blocked. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
-
Substitution, Mallorca. Amath Ndiaye replaces Antonio Sánchez.
-
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Foul by Omar Mascarell (Mallorca).