MADRID (AP) — Aurélien Tchouaméni dissipated the pressure that was growing around the real Madrid with a superb shot into the back of the net, so that the meringues ended with a victory 1-0 their visit to Mallorca to establish themselves on Saturday at the top of the Spanish league.
Tchouaméni controlled a rebound and took a distant right hand that barely touched Manu Morlanes when trying to block so that the ball entered the goal in the 48th minute.
With this victory, Real Madrid reached 25 games without defeat (19 wins and six draws) to consolidate its lead with 78 points, 11 above Barcelona, which in a few hours will face Cádiz.
“This victory brings us closer to the goal of winning the League title,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti. “It was a complete game, as we expected. We were slow in the first half, but we improved in the second.”
Mallorca returned to play after losing last weekend to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final. The vermillion team stagnated in 15th position with 31 units.
Tchouaméni's shot – who scored three goals during the course – was only the second shot on goal for Merengue, after Jude Bellingham had a shot in the first half that hit the crossbar at the edge of the first half hour.
Ancelotti rested Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, Eduardo Camavinga, Toni Kroos and Dani Carvajal at the start, who were part of the team that faced Manchester City in midweek in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Vini, Camavinga and Carvajal entered the complement late.
The meringues will now focus on facing Manchester City on Wednesday in the second leg of their commitment with a 3-3 draw on aggregate.
