Vinicius Jr. and Arda Guler strike twice in two minutes to seal a comeback victory at the Bernabeu, while Diego Simeone’s frustrations grow after another dropped lead.
Real Madrid maintained their flawless start to the La Liga season with a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory over Real Mallorca on Saturday, showcasing the resilient spirit new coach Xabi Alonso is instilling in his squad. The win at a sun-drenched Santiago Bernabeu was a tale of two quick-fire goals and a string of disallowed efforts, keeping Los Blancos at the top of the table.
The match took an unexpected turn when Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi used his shoulder to deflect a corner past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, handing the visitors a surprise lead and scoring the first goal Madrid has conceded this league campaign.
However, any sense of concern was short-lived. Alonso’s side responded with a devastating one-two punch. First, young defender Dean Huijsen headed a cross back into the danger zone for Turkish sensation Arda Guler to nod home in the 37th minute. Before the away fans could catch their breath, Vinicius Junior surged into the box and squeezed a finish into the bottom corner, sending the Bernabeu into a frenzy.
“With good team spirit we managed to turn the game around,” a pleased Alonso told Real Madrid TV after the match. “I’m very happy with this start… We knew we were lacking minutes and some matches.”
The victory, Madrid’s third in a row, is particularly impressive given the team’s truncated pre-season after competing in the Club World Cup. Meanwhile, the mood in the capital is starkly different for rivals Atletico Madrid, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Alaves. After taking an early lead through Giuliano Simeone, Diego Simeone’s side conceded a penalty and spurned chances to win, leaving them without a victory in their first three games.
“We have to keep working, to trust in my players,” said a reflective Diego Simeone. “I’m not looking at the points, the important thing is that the team improves.”
Back at the Bernabeu, Madrid’s performance was a mix of breathtaking attack and resilient defense. New signing Trent Alexander-Arnold returned to the starting line-up and immediately linked up with Kylian Mbappe, who had a first-half goal ruled out for offside. Youngster Franco Mastantuono, 18, impressed on his home debut, fearlessly driving at the Mallorca defense.
Los Blancos saw three goals disallowed in total, including a second for Mbappe and a late tap-in from Guler that was chalked off for a handball. Mallorca pressed for an equalizer late on, with Álvaro Carreras making a spectacular goal-line clearance, but Madrid saw out the game with a control that often eluded them last season.
Carreras, another summer arrival, encapsulated the feeling around the club. “Now we’re starting to live the nights we dreamed of here,” he said. “This is a different season… all of us new players have to fit in quickly.”
As Madrid heads into the international break with maximum points, the message from Alonso’s squad is clear: this is a new era, built on fight and collective spirit.
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