- Real Madrid are top of LaLiga after a 2-0 victory in their clash against Mallorca
- Vinicius Junior put Real in the lead before Sergio Ramos’ brilliant free-kick
- Real are now level on points with Barcelona, while Mallorca are in 18th place
- Mallorca brought on Luca Romero; 15-year-old is the youngest La Liga debutant
Mallorca made history bringing on a 15-year-old, but it was old timer Sergio Ramos who proved his worth once again to lead Real Madrid back to the top of La Liga.
Vinicius Junior got them in front against struggling Mallorca and it was the captain who finished the job with a brilliant free-kick.
There are seven games left and on head-to-head goal difference Zinedine Zidane’s team are the leaders; they don’t look about to loosen their grip, either.
The first half belonged to Vinicius. He was the reason why Madrid were 1-0 up at the break, he was also the reason why the home side were not 3-0 after 45 minutes.
His goal was his most difficult chance. Modric fed him wide left and he chipped Manolo Reina from a tight angle.
Before that he had tamely side-footed straight at the Mallorca keeper when well placed. And after the goal he was through again with the chance to slide the ball either side of Reina but he went once more for the audacious chip and the ball came back off the cross bar.
The Brazilian’s performance aside, Madrid were a little flat and Mallorca might even have got themselves back in it with both Ante Budimir and Baka going close.
Gareth Bale was starting his first match since the break but aside from testing Reina from distance and neatly stepping over the ball when Vinicius scored he was not able to threaten Mallorca.
They felt aggrieved going off at half time still thinking of Dani Carvajal’s shoulder to shoulder barge on Dani Rodriguez that they felt should have been given as a foul just before Vinicius scored.
It was Vinicius who started strongest in the second half. He sprinted down the left and crossed for Benzema who couldn’t finish.
Ramos got the second on 56 minutes with a free-kick as good as any Cristiano Ronaldo scored for the club.
Back when Ramos had to share a dressing room with Ronaldo he rarely got to take a free-kick in this position.
Bale was lurking but there was no way the captain was giving up the chance and having been the player fouled he picked himself up and buried the dead ball into the top corner.
Bale was off with 20 minutes left having not done enough to force his way back into Zidane’s best XI.
In the flurry of late changes for Mallorca Luca Romero made history coming on aged 15 years and 219 days.
No one has debuted younger. The Mexican born, Argentine youth international played the last five minutes as Mallorca tried in vain to get themselves back into the game.
Ramos had one last chance to make it three.
He continues to lead from the front and if he takes Madrid all the way to the title it will be hard for the club to not give him the new contract he desires.
