No one could have scripted what unfolded at Son Moix stadium as Real Madrid’s pursuit of the 2025/26 LaLiga crown was rocked by a nail-biting, last-gasp Mallorca winner. As the clock ticked deep into stoppage time, Kosovo star Vedat Muriqi delivered a hammer blow, firing across Andriy Lunin to hand the hosts a shock 2-1 victory. For Madrid, favorites before kick-off, the loss felt seismic—a pivotal moment that may well define their chase for the title as the season races to its conclusion.
A game of missed chances and defensive brilliance
Early tension set the tone as Real Madrid’s suspected offside call for Mbappé’s break came to nothing because Leo Roman, Mallorca’s impressive goalkeeper, stood firm in the one-on-one duel. Minutes later, the same protagonists clashed again, Roman turning away a curling effort from the Frenchman in the 25th minute—an early hint that this might not be Mbappé’s night.
Mallorca’s first big opportunity came at the opposite end as Morlanes, left a free header in front of goal, squandered a golden chance. But he atoned for that miss before halftime. Combining a deft touch and cool finish from Pablo Maffeo’s delivery, Morlanes put Mallorca ahead, wrong-footing the otherwise steady Lunin.
After the break, Madrid pressed. Roman again denied Mbappé, this time with his feet, but the breakthrough arrived from a set-piece. Trent Alexander-Arnold, brought in precisely for his dead-ball expertise, whipped in a delivery that Éder Militão deftly redirected into the corner. With the game balanced at 1-1, both sides sensed opportunity.
Mallorca showed resilience after conceding, refusing to settle for a share of the spoils. It was substitute Mateo Joseph who made the difference, finding Muriqi with a perfectly timed pass. With composure beyond the moment, Muriqi slotted home his 19th league goal of the campaign. Interestingly, only Kylian Mbappé—Madrid’s own superstar—has scored more in LaLiga this season, with 23 strikes to his name.
Numbers don’t always tell the full story
Madrid’s dominance in possession translated into 15 shots, compared to Mallorca’s six, yet the expected goals (xG) statistics—Madrid 1.27, Mallorca 1.22—reveal a contest far more balanced than many would assume. Both sides crafted two big chances, with clinical finishing—and stoic defending—defining the night.
A few standouts from the data:
- Vedat Muriqi’s 19th LaLiga goal marks him as Mallorca’s most prolific top-flight scorer in a single season since Dani Güiza’s 27 in 2017/18.
- Martin Demichelis became just the third Mallorca coach this century to win his first two home matches, joining the ranks of Sergio Kresic (2001) and Javier Aguirre (2022).
- Despite controlling much of the play, Madrid’s inability to convert close-range chances—especially during their periods of ascendancy—proved costly.
Turning points and new storylines in LaLiga 2025/26
Mallorca’s victory reverberates beyond just three points. With the title race tightening, Madrid now look over their shoulders, feeling the pressure from their chasing rivals. The subplot of Muriqi outshining Mbappé—at least on this night—adds further intrigue, as both pursue the Pichichi Trophy.