Real Madrid 2 - Mallorca 3

Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Pavón, Raúl Bravo (Cambiasso 71'), Roberto Carlos; Beckham, Iván Helguera; Figo, Raúl, Solari (Portillo 76'); Ronaldo. 4-2-3-1.
Mallorca: Leo Franco; David Cortés, Lussenhoff, Fernando Niño, Poli; Finidi, Pereyra, Marcos (Nadal 81'), Campano (Bruggink 67'); Eto'o, Delibasic (Nené 57'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Madrid: Iván Helguera, Solari for Cambiasso, Zidane / Mallorca: Poli for Edu Moya.

Goals:
0-1. 11. Eto'o. Ran on past Raúl Bravo to chip ball past Casillas from right of goal.
1-1. 17. Pavón. Header down into far bottom corner from Beckham's corner.
1-2. 34. Eto'o. Cut past several defenders to fire shot wide of Casillas.
1-3. 43. Campano. Curled free kick over defensive wall into top of net.
2-3. 50. Figo (penalty). Twice taken kick after Figo fell under Delibasic challenge.

Real Madrid virtually handed the league on a plate to Valencia after losing 2-3 to Mallorca, the second year in a row that the Balearic Island side have won in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. And once again the damage was done by a player with links to the club, Samuel Eto'o (whose rights are 50% owned by Madrid) getting two excellent goals for the visitors in the first half of the match.

The Camerooni striker started things off in the eleventh minute when he got away from Raúl Bravo down the left wing and ran on to chip the ball past the advancing Casillas. Pavón headed the equaliser six minutes later from Beckham's corner, but ten minutes before the break Eto'o picked up the ball in midfield and carved past three or four defenders before slotting a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Worse was to come for the Galacticos, and two minutes before the break Campano increased the lead with a free kick which, if scored by David Beckham, would have been in all the headlines. And before the half time whistle Eto'o almost completed his hat-trick when he almost caught out Casillas, the keeper just managing to stop his effort on the line.

There were boos and catcalls from the crowd at half time, but five minutes after the restart Madrid were back in it when Delibasic backed into Figo following a corner, and referee Undiano Mallenco awarded a penalty. Figo beat Leo Franco from the spot, but had to repeat the act as Solari had encroached on the area. His second kick went the other way though, leaving the keeper sprawling.

After that the Merengues pushed forward looking for the equaliser, but an off-form Raúl shot wide after Solari set him up. Ronaldo found the net only to have the goal ruled out for controlling the ball with his arm, and a few minutes later shot wide after creating space in front of goal.

In the end though a third disastrous loss in a row for Carlos Queiroz's side (and a third loss in a row at home), who only stay in second spot thanks to Barcelona's defeat at Celta. Mallorca are now virtually safe for another season after winning their last three games.