Real Madrid manages to keep their perfect start to the season, overturning a deficit to beat Mallorca 4-1 despite the lack of Karim Benzema.
Muriqi’s headed goal 10 minutes from the interval presented Real Madrid a real challenge.
But Valverde’s stunning solo effort deep in injury time brought the score back level before the break.
The second half would be largely dominated by Vinicius, who was at the heart of every Merengue move both at the inception and conclusion.
He would not be denied for long, linking up with international team-mate Rodrygo to put a fantastic goal past Rajkovic, which would prove to seal the result.
Late goals from the aforementioned Rodrygo and Rudiger added a bit of gloss to the result.
With the emphatic win keeping Ancelotti’s side at the top of the table! Mallorca sit 13th after the loss.
Starting lineup:
REAL MADRID XI (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois;
Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez;
Dani Ceballos, Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde;
Vinicius Junior, Eden Hazard, Rodrygo.
REAL MADRID SUBS: Eduardo Camavinga, Nacho, Dani Carvajal, Marco Asensio, Mariano, Jesus Vallejo, Aurelien Tchouameni, Andriy Lunin, Luka Modric, Luis Lopez.
MALLORCA XI (5-3-2): Predrag Rajkovic;
Pablo Maffeo, Martin Valjent, Antonio Raillo, Matija Nastasic, Jaume Costa;
Inigo Ruiz De Galaretta, Rodrigo Battaglia, Dani Rodriguez;
Kang-In Lee, Vedat Muriqi.
MALLORCA SUBS: Giovanni Gonzalez, Copete, Antonio Sanchez, Lago Junior, Leo Roman, Iddrisu Baba, Braian Cufre, Franco Russo, Javi Llabres, Clement Grenier, Angel Rodriguez, Abdon Prats.
Goals:
MALLORCA TAKE THE LEAD! 1-0! Muriqi continues his fine form with his third goal in four matches, meeting Lee’s free-kick at the far post and nodding an unmarked header past Courtois!
SENSATIONAL GOAL! 1-1! It’s a phenomenal equaliser from Valverde, who picks up a pass from Ceballos well inside his own half and drives forward, slaloming this way and that before cutting inside and unleashing a superb left-footed effort that finds the top corner!
REAL MADRID TAKE THE LEAD! 2-1! Rodrygo drives through midfield, riding challenges and evading tackles as he makes his way towards the penalty area before slipping a pass through for Vinicius. The Brazil international’s first touch takes him wide of goal before dispatching a lovely left-footed effort past Rajkovic!
IT’S THREE FOR REAL MADRID! 3-1! Another stunning solo goal for Real Madrid, with Rodrygo able to dribble between and through three separate defenders, leaving two on the turf in his wake as he coolly places his side-foot finish past Rajkovic!
RUDIGER MAKES IT FOUR! 4-1! Kroos dinks a free-kick from the right towards the back post, where it’s met by an unmarked Rudiger, who uses the side of his foot to volley the ball past the goalkeeper at his near side!
So, what’s next?
Real Madrid host Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday ahead of a derby against Atletico Madrid four days later. Mallorca are back in action on Saturday against Almeria.
