Real Madrid Overcomes Early Deficit to Secure Third Consecutive La Liga Win

Real Madrid continued their flawless start to the La Liga season, clinching a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabéu. The win, their third in as many league matches, was a testament to their resilience, as Xabi Alonso's side mounted a swift comeback after falling behind for the first time this season.

Mallorca Takes Surprise Lead Amidst Early VAR Drama

The match began with a moment of VAR drama in the seventh minute when Kylian Mbappé thought he had put Real Madrid ahead with a fine finish. However, the goal was ultimately disallowed for offside after a lengthy review.

Mallorca, undeterred, grew into the game and stunned the home crowd in the 30th minute. Vedat Muriqi rose highest to powerfully head home a pinpoint cross from Pablo Torre, giving the visitors a surprising 1-0 lead and putting Real Madrid behind for the first time in the current campaign.

Vinícius Júnior's Brilliance Sparks Rapid Turnaround

The turning point arrived just before halftime with Real Madrid scoring two goals in quick succession to turn the tide. In the 37th minute, a long ball from Álvaro Carreras found Dean Huijsen at the back post, who headed it across goal for Arda Güler to nod in the equalizer, marking his first goal of the season.

Barely a minute later, Vinícius Júnior showcased his individual brilliance. Receiving the ball on a rapid counter-attack, the Brazilian forward drove forward with purpose and curled a powerful left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner of the net, completing the turnaround and giving Real Madrid a 2-1 lead at the break.

A Game of Fine Margins and Youthful Milestones

The second half saw Real Madrid have a third goal disallowed in the 55th minute due to a handball in the build-up, following another extensive VAR review. Mallorca pressed for an equalizer, with Samu Costa coming close, but a crucial clearance from Carreras helped preserve Madrid's slender lead until the final whistle.

Vinícius Júnior's performance was particularly noteworthy, as he has now been directly involved in six goals in his last 10 LaLiga appearances against Mallorca. The match also marked a historic moment for Franco Mastantuono, who, at just 18 years and 16 days old, became the youngest player to start a league match for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu in the 21st century.

This hard-fought victory ensures Real Madrid maintains its perfect record at the start of the 2025-26 La Liga season, demonstrating their championship credentials early on.