Antonio Rudiger‘s second-half goal spared the blushes of Brahim Diaz as Real Madrid beat Mallorca 1-0 at home on Wednesday, extending their unbeaten league run to 13 games.
Rudiger broke the deadlock in the 78th minute as he capitalised on some sloppy defending from Luka Modric‘s corner to power a header into the top corner and score his first goal of the season.
It came minutes after Diaz looked to turn in a rebound at point-blank range after Rodrygo’s shot was saved, but his header miraculously hit the inside of the post before bobbling precariously across the goalline to safety.
The win moved Real up to 48 points, three ahead of surprise package Girona, who host third-placed Atletico Madrid later on Wednesday.
‘Great cross by Luka, great block by (Dani) Carvajal and luckily it went in,’ Rudiger told reporters.
Real Madrid beat Mallorca 1-0 at home courtesy of a second-half Antonio Rudiger header
Rudiger scored his first LaLiga goal since scoring against the same opponents in 2022
It came after Brahim Diaz (No 21) missed a header from point-blank range on Wednesday
‘I’m happy because it was an important goal and three important points for us. This team has something special, a good mix of young and old talent.’
Mallorca had mounted a resilient defensive display and came close to shocking Real with two efforts that hit the woodwork.
Vinicius Jr also went close to scoring on his return to action after being sidelined with an injury but Mallorca keeper Predrag Rajkovic made a superb save to deny the Brazilian in the first half.
‘It’s always a difficult game when you come back from holidays,’ Real defender Carvajal told Real Madrid TV.
‘Mallorca played a tactically very good game, very aggressive in defence. The set piece gave us the victory.’
Jude Bellingham also featured in the win that saw Real keep their spot at the top of LaLiga
‘We close the first half of the season as possible leaders, 48 points is a lot. In the second half we’ll be looking to surpass them.’
Real next visit fifth-tier Arandina in the first round of the Spanish Cup before taking on Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.