Mallorca damage Real Madrid title hopes as Marco Asensio misses penalty
Palma, Spain - Real Madrid's hopes of retaining La Liga were dented Sunday as the champions fell 1-0 at Real Mallorca, to remain five points behind leaders Barcelona.
The Catalans host Sevilla later on and can open up an eightpoint lead after a frustrated Madrid fell against Javier Aguirre's side, with Marco Asensio missing a penalty against his former club.
Nacho's 13th minute looping header into his own net separated the teams in a hard-fought clash, frequently slowed by various fouls from the hosts.
Amid a constant battle between winger Vinicius Junior and Mallorca's players and supporters, the islanders held off Los Blancos to record an impressive victory.
Real Madrid, second, were without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, hurt during the warmup, along with the injured Karim Benzema, Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy, among other absentees.
Rodrygo started up front in place of Benzema, while Dani Ceballos and Fede Valverde were given starts in midfield ahead of veterans Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
The match was heated from
the start, largely due to historic bad blood between Vinicius and Mallorca.
Mallorca captain Antonio Raillo has criticised the Brazilian winger on multiple occasions for lacking respect towards oppo
nents and said he wouldn't hold him up as an example to his son.
Home fans at the Visit Mallorca Stadium whistled Vinicius when he was on the ball and chanted Raillo's name.
Ancelotti was also frustrated his team were playing in the early after-noon after having faced Valencia on Thursday night and Madrid started sluggishly.
Mallorca, 10th, took an early lead when Nacho's attempted header sent Dani Rodriguez's inswinging cross from the left looping over Courtois's stand-in Andriy Lunin and dipping just under the crossbar.
The hosts shackled Vinicius well in the first half and reduced Madrid to pot-shots from distance, Antonio Rudiger and Valverde firing wildly off-target.
Vinicius was booked for stepping on Pablo Maffeo's foot, leaving the Brazilian incredulous after various fouls against him had not been punished with a card.
Ceballos protested vehemently to the officials as the teams went in at the break and was also booked, as temperatures rose in the Mallorcan sun.
Vinicius pulled at the Madrid badge on his shirt while looking at the home fans to agitate them further.