Real Madrid secured their third consecutive La Liga win with a 2-1 victory against Real Mallorca on Saturday, continuing their flawless start to the season.
Arda Guler and Vinicius Junior netted goals in quick succession for Los Blancos after Vedat Muriqi of Mallorca had initially put them ahead at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Xabi Alonso’s Madrid also had three additional goals disallowed as they showed improvement following the coach’s arrival at the beginning of the summer.
Having participated in the Club World Cup this summer and lacking a proper pre-season, achieving victories in all their matches before the first international break is a remarkable accomplishment for Alonso.
The former Bayer Leverkusen coach reinstated Vinicius Junior and Trent Alexander-Arnold into the starting lineup after both players began last weekend’s match against Real Oviedo on the bench.
Kylian Mbappe, who has kicked off the season strongly with three league goals, believed he had scored first after receiving a great pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold, but was ruled offside.
Mallorca unexpectedly took the lead after 18 minutes when Vedat Muriqi used his shoulder to redirect a corner past Thibaut Courtois.
This was the first goal Madrid conceded in La Liga this season, following two clean sheets in their opening matches. Alonso’s team quickly responded with two goals in less than two minutes.
Dean Huijsen headed Alvaro Carreras’ cross into the six-yard box, allowing Arda Guler to nod it home in the 37th minute.
With Mallorca shaken, Vinicius dashed into space, entered the box, and managed to scuff a shot into the bottom corner.
Mbappe had a chance to increase Madrid’s lead before halftime but shot wide from close range after Guler’s effort was deflected into his path.
The Frenchman attempted again moments later but was once more ruled offside, resulting in the goal being disallowed. Bright summer sign