The former Chelsea defender scored the game-winning goal.
At the Bernabeu, Real Madrid defeated Mallorca 1-0 in the first match of 2024 owing to a late goal by Antonio Rudiger. Real Madrid is currently atop LaLiga.
The centre back gave Real the lead in the 78th minute by heading in a cross from Luka Modric. Before then, Samu Costa and Antonio Sanchez both had good chances for Mallorca that went narrowly wide of the goal.
Substitute Brahim Diaz for the hosts nearly scored, but his header went high and wide of the post. When Carlo Ancelotti’s new contract was announced, they were able to celebrate with three points thanks to Rudiger’s improved precision, which secured the victory.
Despite Real Madrid’s three-point advantage, Girona will play Atletico Madrid later on Wednesday, moving them up to second place.
Ancelotti made four changes from the 1-0 victory against Alaves, including replacing Kepa Arrizabalaga with Andriy Lunin in goal and bringing back Vinicius Junior, who had been out since November with an injury sustained while playing for Brazil in international duty. The extension for Ancelotti’s contract is set till 2026.
Just one minute into the game, Lunin dashed out of his own half to deflect a pass that would have gone to Cyle Larin. At the other end, Jude Bellingham tried to head the ball, but Predrag Rajkovic made the save.
Vinicius Junior’s turn came next; he received a great pass from Modric, but he first shot wide and then attempted a piledriver from outside the box, which Rajkovic thankfully stopped with a dive.
After Mallorca went down in the 42nd minute, Sanchez came close to giving his team an unexpected lead with a header that went just past Real’s crossbar.
Larin had another opportunity for Javier Aguirre’s squad in first-half stoppage time, but his attempt missed the target. At the start of the second half, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos sent a free-kick over the bar, and Costa had another chance for Mallorca when his long-range shot struck the base of the post.
Real started to recover after taking a short break. Diaz had a chance to score in the 69th minute, but his close-range header went wide of the goal after Rodrygo forced Rajkovic to parry.
The home team finally scored in the ninth minute when captain Luka Modric sent a corner ball into the penalty area, and Rudiger swooped in to beat Rajkovic.
Real Madrid’s leading scorer, Bellingham, missed a late penalty kick opportunity to extend his team’s lead.
For Mallorca, Samu Costa and Antonio Sanchez both missed goal-scoring opportunities. Costa also struck the post, and Sanchez’s header ricocheted against the underside of the crossbar before settling on the goalline.
Rudiger scored in the 78th minute after a magnificent left-wing corner by Luka Modric, following those missed chances.
After 18 games in all competitions, Real Madrid still hasn’t lost a game.
After Real took a temporary three-point lead over Girona, the Catalan club levelled the score in the 91st minute of their 4-3 victory over Atletico Madrid, thanks to a goal by Ivan Martin.
Real Madrid and Girona each have 48 points after 19 games in the Spanish league season’s halfway stage. But owing to a superior goal difference, Real Madrid is leading the league.
