Real Madrid secured a 2-1 comeback victory against Mallorca, maintaining their perfect start to the LaLiga season. Mallorca took the lead through Vedat Muriqi, but goals from Arda Guler and Vinicius Junior turned the game around in quick succession. The win highlighted Real Madrid’s resilience and attacking talent, while also showcasing Mallorca’s fighting spirit.
Real Madrid showcased their resilience and attacking prowess, securing a 2-1 victory against Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu. This win allows them to continue their unblemished start to the 2025-26 LaLiga season. The match was a tale of two halves, with Mallorca initially taking the lead, only for Real Madrid to respond with two quick-fire goals that sealed the three points.
The game began with Real Madrid displaying their intent early on. Kylian Mbappe, the highly anticipated summer signing, thought he had opened the scoring, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Aurelien Tchouameni also tried his luck from distance, but his shot sailed over the bar. Despite Real Madrid's early pressure, it was Mallorca who drew first blood in the 18th minute. Vedat Muriqi rose highest to meet Pablo Torre’s well-delivered corner, heading powerfully past the Real Madrid goalkeeper to give the visitors a surprising lead.
Real Madrid, spurred on by the vociferous home crowd, responded with sustained pressure. Mbappe continued to threaten, coming close on a couple of occasions. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 37th minute, thanks to a moment of brilliance and teamwork. Dean Huijsen, with a clever header, directed Alvaro Carreras’ long ball across the penalty area, finding Arda Guler unmarked. The young Turkish midfielder made no mistake, nodding the ball home from close range to level the score.
The equalizer injected renewed energy into Real Madrid's play, and they capitalized on the momentum almost immediately. Just 68 seconds after Guler’s goal, Vinicius Junior completed the turnaround with a superb individual effort. A swift counter-attack saw Vinicius receive the ball on the left wing. He skillfully evaded his marker and drove towards the penalty area before unleashing a powerful, low drive into the bottom-right corner of the net, leaving the Mallorca goalkeeper with no chance. The Bernabeu erupted as Real Madrid took the lead.
Mallorca, to their credit, did not cave in despite conceding two goals in quick succession. They regrouped and began to probe for openings in the Real Madrid defense. Samu Costa came close to leveling the score midway through the second half, but his goal-bound attempt was brilliantly blocked by Carreras, who proved to be just as crucial at the back as he had been providing the assist for the first goal. Real Madrid managed to weather the storm and hold on to their lead, securing a hard-fought victory.
The victory extends Real Madrid's impressive home record in LaLiga. They are now on a six-match winning streak at the Bernabeu, a feat they have only achieved once since the 2020-21 season. This run of form highlights their dominance on home turf and their ability to consistently pick up points in front of their passionate supporters. Vinicius Junior's performance was particularly noteworthy, as he followed up his goal and assist against Real Oviedo last week with another crucial goal. The Brazilian winger has a knack for performing well against Mallorca, having been involved in six goals in his ten LaLiga appearances against them. His pace, trickery, and eye for goal make him a constant threat to opposition defenses.
Adding to the historical context, the match also saw Franco Mastantuono become the youngest player to start a league match for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the 21st century, at just 18 years and 16 days old. This milestone underscores Real Madrid's commitment to nurturing young talent and providing opportunities for promising players to shine on the biggest stage.
Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior pic.twitter.com/73GWgTKpkZ
— Real Madrid C.F.(@realmadriden) August 30, 2025