Madrid, January 4, 2024 — LaLiga leaders Real Madrid clinched a hard-fought 1-0 home win against Mallorca on Wednesday, extending their unbeaten league run to an impressive 13 games. The victory propelled Real Madrid to 48 points, establishing a three-point lead over Girona, the surprise package, who are set to face third-placed Atletico Madrid later in the day.
The lone goal of the match came in the 78th minute, courtesy of a well-executed header by center back Antonio Rudiger. Rudiger capitalized on some defensive lapses following Luka Modric’s corner, securing his first goal of the season and contributing to Real Madrid’s continued dominance in LaLiga.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Rudiger acknowledged the significance of the goal, stating, “Great cross by Luka, great block by (Dani) Carvajal, and luckily it went in. I’m happy because it was an important goal and three important points for us. This team has something special, a good mix of young and old talent.”
Mallorca, despite mounting a resilient defensive display, came close to causing an upset with two efforts that struck the woodwork. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, making a return after recovering from injury, had a close chance in the first half, but Mallorca’s goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic made a superb save to deny the Brazilian.
Real Madrid defender Carvajal acknowledged the challenges posed by Mallorca, stating, “It’s always a difficult game when you come back from holidays. Mallorca played a tactically very good game, very aggressive in defense. The set piece gave us the victory.”
With 48 points at the midway point of the season, Real Madrid is determined to maintain their position at the top. Carvajal expressed confidence, saying, “We close the first half of the season as possible leaders, 48 points is a lot. In the second half, we’ll be looking to surpass them.”
Real Madrid’s upcoming fixtures include a visit to fifth-tier Arandina in the first round of the Spanish Cup, followed by a clash with Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.
