Real Madrid pulled off a thrilling last-minute victory over Mallorca with a 2-1 scoreline to postpone Barcelona’s hopes of clinching the La Liga title. The dramatic win came courtesy of a stoppage-time goal from Jacobo Ramón, who found the net five minutes into injury time to keep Madrid mathematically alive in the title race.
Although Real Madrid’s chances of winning the league remain slim, they were determined not to allow Barcelona an early celebration. The match at Santiago Bernabeu saw Mallorca strike first, as Martin Valjent scored in the 11th minute. The lead remained intact until Kylian Mbappé dazzled through defenders and netted the equalizer in the 68th minute.
The match reached a boiling point in injury time when Ramón scored from inside the box, turning the game in Madrid’s favor. The victory keeps the title race just barely open, as Barcelona sits four points clear and can still secure their 28th league title with a win against Espanyol on Thursday.
Mbappé, who had scored a hat trick in the recent 4-3 defeat to Barcelona in the final El Clasico of the season, now has 28 goals in the league, placing him ahead of Robert Lewandowski in the Golden Boot race. Despite Madrid losing all four clashes against their fierce rivals this season—outscored 16-7—this win was a matter of pride.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois emphasized the importance of fighting till the end, stating, “When we wear this badge we always give our all. The gap may be large but we will continue to push until the title is mathematically out of reach.”
Manager Carlo Ancelotti, recently announced as Brazil’s next head coach, received a mixed reaction from the home fans. Though some had criticized the timing of his negotiations, the majority respected his legacy, with applause heard as his name echoed through the stadium before the match.
Ancelotti, now in the final stages of his second tenure at Madrid, led the club to several trophies, including last season’s Champions League and La Liga double. This season, however, the team has only managed to win the UEFA Super Cup. With one final home match left against Real Sociedad, Ancelotti remains hopeful, remarking, “In football anything can still happen.”
Speculation continues around his replacement, with Xabi Alonso rumored to take over following his departure from Bayer Leverkusen. However, the club has not yet confirmed any successor.
Real Madrid, still missing key players due to injuries, dominated possession and created nearly 40 chances against Mallorca, eventually getting their deserved win.
Meanwhile, in the relegation zone, Leganes edged closer to relegation after a 3-0 defeat to Villarreal. The team, currently 18th, remains four points behind Alaves, who managed a 1-0 home win over Valencia. With just a few games left, the battle for survival remains fierce.
