Mallorca 1 - Real Madrid 1

Mallorca: Leo Franco; Campano, Olaizola, Nadal, Marcos, Miguel Soler; Novo (Robles 84'), Engonga (Paco Soler 84'), Paunovic (Riera 84'); Eto'o, Luque. 5-3-2.
Real Madrid: Carlos Sánchez; Michel Salgado, Hierro, Pavón, Roberto Carlos; Iván Helguera, Makelele; Figo (Munitis 90'), Zidane, Raúl; Morientes (Guti 70'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Mallorca: Paunovic for Siviero / Madrid: Carlos Sánchez for Casillas.

Goals:
0-1. 55. Raúl. Steered header past Franco after long cross from Roberto Carlos.
1-1. 69. Luque. Running in from close range after Eto'o squared ball in from right.

Real Madrid failed in their objective to end the year in first place, but kept up their six game unbeaten run with a somewhat fortunate draw on a rainy night in Mallorca. With Casillas suspended after getting himself sent off in the midweek cup victory against Nàstic and César still injured, third choice keeper Carlos Sánchez made his first team league debut for Del Bosque's side, and the manager called up two young keepers, Arroyo and Codina, as cover (Arroyo was playing the day before in the Canary Isles and was not sure of arriving on time). Sergio Kresic was missing several key players, especially in defence where Vicente and Siviero were injured and Fernando Niño suspended, and was relieved to see that five others, including Nadal and strikers Luque and Eto'o, all passed late fitness tests.

Other than Sánchez, Madrid lined up with much the same side who played in the last few league games and in Tuesday's cup tie, and after a long season they were starting to look tired. Mallorca dominated the first half in which only the young keeper showed any form for the visitors, and he was called on to make important saves from Luque and from Novo. Shortly before half time Luque did manage to beat him with a lob from the edge of the area, but the ball rebounded off the bar and back in to his relieved arms. The half time rest did some good for Madrid's tired legs, and Zidane fired a shot against the bar soon after the restart. The play started to flow, and a couple of minutes later Raúl gave them the lead, heading home a cross from Roberto Carlos for his nineteenth of the season.

After that the league champions tried to put the game to sleep, slowing down the rhythm to try and see out the rest of the half. However ex Real Madrid striker Eto'o had other ideas, and he was determined to show his old team that they had made a mistake letting him go. With twenty minutes to go the visitors gave the ball away in midfield, and the young Camerooni international charged down the right wing to lay the ball across for Luque to equalise from close range. And then with the game coming to a close he almost won it for the Island side, Sánchez making the save of the night to keep out his dangerous header. The points were shared, and Madrid drop to second, a point behind leaders Deportivo who they meet in the first game of the new year. Mallorca end the day in sixteenth place and are now only two points above the drop zone, although now that they are out of cup competitions and can concentrate on the league they should have the quality to survive.