Muriqi seals late win as Mallorca shock Real Madrid

Madrid’s title race setback

The defeat leaves second-placed Real Madrid four points behind leaders Barcelona, who face Atletico Madrid later in the day. Coach Alvaro Arbeloa admitted his side paid the price for not maintaining intensity, saying the team failed to match the demands of top-level competition.

First half struggles for Real Madrid

Real Madrid struggled to create chances early on, despite efforts from Kylian Mbappe, who was denied twice by goalkeeper Leo Roman. Mallorca capitalised when Manu Morlanes broke free to score from Pablo Maffeo’s cross, giving the hosts the lead.

Late drama unfolds

Madrid pushed for an equaliser in the second half, with Arbeloa introducing Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Eder Militao. Their pressure paid off when Militao headed in from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner late in the game.

Muriqi’s emotional winner

Just when Madrid looked set to salvage a point, Muriqi struck in the 91st minute to secure a crucial win for Mallorca. The striker, who had missed a penalty in the previous match, celebrated emotionally after scoring his 19th goal of the season.

Mallorca boost survival hopes

The victory lifts Mallorca two points clear of the relegation zone. Coach Martin Demichelis praised his players’ resilience, saying the win was a much-needed boost after a difficult run of results.