Real Madrid 0 - Mallorca 2

Real Madrid: Casillas; Geremi, Karanka, Hierro, Roberto Carlos; Sanchis (Morientes 46'), Makelele; Figo, Guti (McManaman 67'), Munitis (Savio 60'); Raúl. 4-2-3-1.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; Olaizola, Fernando Niño, Nadal, Miguel Soler; Finidi, Engonga, Marcos (Novo 55'), Ibagaza; Eto'o (Stankovic 65'), Luque (Carlos 78'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Madrid: Sanchis, Munitis for Iván Helguera, Savio / Mallorca: None.

Goals:
0-1. 55. Ibagaza. Controlled pass from Engonga and chipped over Casillas.
0-2. 92. Carlos. Ran on to Stankovic through ball and curled shot round keeper.

Real Madrid became Mallorca's second big victim in a row, winning at the Bernabeu Stadium by two goals to nil, the same result as their win over Barcelona at the weekend. Once again their veteran manager Luis Aragonés got it right. Against Barcelona it was "take out their playmaker Xavi in midfield, keep up the pressure, don't let them settle on the ball and keep possession as long as you can". Against Madrid it was "don't let them play down the wings and don't sit back, go for goal and put the pressure on Casillas". He made it clear before the match and that's what they did. In the first few minutes Casillas had to save from Eto'o and Luque, Mallorca's exciting new strike force, and Madrid were lucky not to be behind in the first half as Mallorca took control of midfield. Their only real chance at goal came from Raúl, playing as the only striker, and his header from Geremi's cross struck the base of the post halfway through the half.

Del Bosque had had to make last minute changes to his side when Iván Helguera went down with gastroenteritis shortly before the match, and Sanchís came in to partner Makelele in the defensive midfield position. At half time he decide it wasn't working, and brought on Morientes up front for the veteran captain, with Guti dropping back. That didn't work either, with Morientes out of match practice missing a Roberto Carlos cross, and a few minutes later Ibagaza gave the visitors a deserved lead, taking a through ball from the tireless Engonga and chipping over Casillas with a cool which Raúl would be proud of. On came Savio and McManaman for Munitis and Guti and that improved things a bit, but it was two of Mallorca's substitutes, Stankovic and Carlos, who were to add to the scoreline in injury time, the Yugoslav feeding the Spaniard for him to curl the ball around the keeper.

Luis's revival was complete, and he had navigated his team through the deadly triangle of Depor, Barça and Madrid with a remarkable seven points, taking his side well clear of danger up into the top half of the table. Madrid were wondering what had gone wrong, and have to regroup for their next game against Numancia at the weekend. Some of their players were already looking tired, and in fact a few had even commented before the game that they were unused to playing at five o'clock in the afternoon, when they usually take their siestas. Hopefully that was all it was, but Raúl and Figo were not themselves this time. Del Bosque may be well advised to give them a few days rest, but when all is said and done, they are still third in the table, albeit five points now behind leaders Valencia. Nothing to worry about for the moment then.