At the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, Real Madrid staged an electrifying comeback against Mallorca on Saturday, August 30, 2025, in the third round of LaLiga 2025/26. With goals from Arda Güler and Vinicius Junior, the Merengues turned the game around after trailing, maintaining their 100% record in the competition. The match, still ongoing at 39 minutes of the first half, has been marked by intensity, clear chances, and tense moments, such as Kylian Mbappé’s disallowed goal and a near blunder by Mallorca’s goalkeeper Léo Román. The game, which kicked off at 4:30 PM (Brasília time), reflects the drive of Xabi Alonso’s team in pursuit of another victory. The clash highlights Real Madrid’s offensive strength and Mallorca’s resilience, who took the lead with Vedat Muriqi.
Real Madrid took to the field aiming to solidify their position among LaLiga’s leaders. After convincing wins against Osasuna (1-0) and Real Oviedo (3-0), the team sought to maintain their momentum against an opponent that, despite not having won this season, has faced giants like Barcelona. The Bernabéu crowd created a vibrant atmosphere, with notable banners and requests for Vinicius Junior’s jersey, as the player returned to the starting lineup after being decisive off the bench in the previous round.
- Key moments so far:
- Mbappé had a goal disallowed for offside at 5 minutes, following a pass from Alexander-Arnold.
- Mallorca took the lead with Muriqi, capitalizing on a corner at 17 minutes.
- Léo Román nearly gifted a goal on Tchouaméni’s shot but recovered at 30 minutes.
- Arda Güler equalized at 36 minutes, with an assist from Huijsen.
- Vinicius Junior turned the game around at 37 minutes with a swift counterattack.
The match remains intense, with Real Madrid pressing and Mallorca looking to regroup defensively to counter the Merengues’ momentum.
Real Madrid’s explosive start
Real Madrid began the game with high intensity, dominating possession and creating chances from the opening minutes. At 5 minutes, Kylian Mbappé found the net after a precise pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold, but the goal was ruled out for offside, confirmed by VAR. The play showcased the connection between the newly arrived English full-back and the French striker, who is aiming to cement his leadership in the Merengue attack. Shortly after, at 9 minutes, Mbappé threatened again but was caught offside once more.
Despite the early dominance, Mallorca displayed defensive organization, with Antonio Raíllo standing out by neutralizing moves from Vinicius Junior and Franco Mastantuono. The visitors relied on quick transitions, leveraging Pablo Torre’s speed and Vedat Muriqi’s presence in the box. The Merengue crowd, though supportive, showed some anxiety over the missed opportunities.
Mallorca’s surprise lead
At 17 minutes, Mallorca stunned the Bernabéu. From a Pablo Torre corner, striker Vedat Muriqi deflected the ball with his shoulder into the bottom left corner of Thibaut Courtois’ goal, leaving the keeper with no chance. The goal brought a momentary hush to the stands and exposed a rare lapse in the Merengue defense, which had kept clean sheets in their previous two LaLiga matches. Muriqi, known for his physicality, capitalized on space in the box to score his first goal of the season.
Real Madrid responded quickly. Vinicius Junior, on the left, drove forward with skill and fired a low shot at 22 minutes, but Léo Román made a solid save. Mallorca, meanwhile, held their defensive stance, with Martin Valjent and Marat Kumbulla thwarting the hosts’ attacks. The visitors also posed threats on the counter, such as at 23 minutes when Muriqi shot but was blocked by Éder Militão.
Léo Román’s near blunder
One of the first half’s most peculiar moments came at 30 minutes. Tchouaméni struck a shot from outside the box, and Mallorca’s goalkeeper Léo Román nearly gifted Real Madrid a goal. The ball slipped through his legs, but the keeper recovered just in time, avoiding what would have been an embarrassing goal. The incident drew gasps from the crowd and relief from the Mallorca bench, as their goalkeeper narrowly escaped a mistake that could have shifted the game’s momentum.
- Details of the moment:
- Tchouaméni’s shot was powerful, aimed at the center of the goal.
- Léo Román attempted to hold the ball but failed on the first try.
- His quick recovery prevented a temporary equalizer.
The moment underscored the pressure Real Madrid exerted, maintaining control of the game with higher possession and more shots on goal.
Real Madrid’s lightning-fast comeback
At 36 minutes, Real Madrid equalized. In a move started by Carreras, defender Huijsen headed the ball into the box, and Arda Güler, well-positioned, nodded it into the net. The goal reignited the Bernabéu crowd and boosted the Merengues’ confidence, setting the stage for the turnaround.
Just a minute later, at 37 minutes, Vinicius Junior sealed the comeback. After Federico Valverde recovered the ball, Vini led a rapid counterattack, cut to the left, and fired a precise shot into the corner past Léo Román. The goal highlighted Real Madrid’s ability to capitalize on quick transitions and their relentless attacking approach.
⚽ 38' | 2-1 | ¡¡¡GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL de @ViniJr!!!#FC26 | @easportsfc pic.twitter.com/G6LOgcFsMM
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 30, 2025
Timeline: key moments of the match
The Santiago Bernabéu clash has been defined by decisive plays that shaped the scoreline up to the 39th minute of the first half. Below are the main moments that have driven the Real Madrid vs. Mallorca matchup:
- 5’: Mbappé scores after an Alexander-Arnold pass, but the goal is disallowed for offside, confirmed by VAR.
- 17’: Muriqi opens the scoring for Mallorca, deflecting a Pablo Torre corner with his shoulder.
- 30’: Tchouaméni shoots from distance, and Léo Román nearly fumbles but recovers.
- 36’: Arda Güler equalizes for Real Madrid, heading in a Huijsen cross.
- 37’: Vinicius Junior turns the game around with a counterattack goal, firing into the corner.
These moments reflect the game’s intensity, with Real Madrid dominating offensively but facing resistance from Mallorca’s defense.
Vinicius Junior’s decisive role
Vinicius Junior was the standout in Real Madrid’s comeback. After being pivotal in the previous round with a goal and an assist against Real Oviedo, the Brazilian returned to the starting lineup and proved why he’s a key figure in Xabi Alonso’s system. At 37 minutes, he capitalized on Valverde’s ball recovery, led a counterattack with speed, and finished with precision, beating Léo Román.
Vini’s goal reflects his game-changing ability. With his dribbling and finishing skills, the former Flamengo star remains a constant threat on the left wing, despite facing tough marking from Martin Valjent. His return to the starting XI reinforces the coach’s trust in his capacity to decide crucial matches.
Absences and support from the stands
Real Madrid is missing two key players: Endrick and Jude Bellingham. The young Brazilian, sidelined by injury, watched the match from the Bernabéu stands, with a return expected in September. Bellingham, recovering from a longer-term injury, also attended to support the team. The fans, aware of the absences, brought extra energy, with banners requesting Vinicius Junior’s jersey.
- Injury updates:
- Endrick: Minor injury, expected back in September.
- Bellingham: Longer recovery, no confirmed return date.
- Impact: Team retains offensive strength with Mbappé and Vini Jr.
The absences haven’t diminished Real Madrid’s drive, with a deep squad featuring Arda Güler and Mastantuono stepping up.
Mallorca’s quest for balance
Mallorca, despite trailing, shows tactical discipline under Jagoba Arrasate. The team, yet to win in LaLiga 2025/26, has faced tough opponents like Barcelona and now Real Madrid. Muriqi’s opportunistic goal highlighted their strength in set pieces, a weapon that could prove crucial in their push for an equalizer in the second half.
The defense, led by Raíllo and Valjent, has held firm against Real Madrid’s attacks, but the relentless pressure demands adjustments. Players like Pablo Torre and Takuma Asano aim to create through speed, but they struggle against the solidity of Éder Militão and Huijsen in the Merengue backline.
Real Madrid’s offensive pressure
Real Madrid maintains an average of 13 shots per game in LaLiga, reflecting their attacking volume. By the 39th minute, they had several clear chances, notably Mbappé’s attempts, thwarted by offsides, and Tchouaméni’s near-goal, exploiting Léo Román’s error. With over 60% possession, the Merengues dominate, aiming to cement their lead in the competition.
Xabi Alonso’s strategy emphasizes pace on the wings, with Vinicius Junior and Mastantuono, combined with Arda Güler’s creativity in midfield. The team averages 8 corners per match, increasing pressure on the opposition defense through aerial plays.
Historical edge for Real Madrid
The Real Madrid vs. Mallorca matchup heavily favors the Merengues. In 75 encounters, Real Madrid has won 46 times, compared to 11 Mallorca victories and 12 draws. At the Bernabéu, their dominance is even stronger, with nine consecutive LaLiga wins, scoring 27 goals in that span. Mallorca’s last triumph in Madrid was in 2019, underscoring the challenge they face.
Last season, the teams met three times, with Real Madrid winning twice (3-0 in the Supercopa and 2-1 in LaLiga) and drawing once (1-1). Vinicius Junior’s record against Mallorca is impressive, with five goal involvements (three goals, two assists) in nine league games.
Match summary
At the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid turned the game around against Mallorca on Saturday, August 30, 2025, in the third round of LaLiga 2025/26, with goals from Arda Güler and Vinicius Junior. Mallorca took the lead at 17 minutes through Muriqi, but the Merengues equalized at 36 minutes and took the lead at 37, with the match ongoing at 39 minutes of the first half. Kicked off at 4:30 PM (Brasília time), the game sees Real Madrid chasing their third straight win, while Mallorca seeks their first victory of the season. Moments like Mbappé’s disallowed goal and Léo Román’s near blunder have defined the intense clash.
