On March 15, 2025, Mallorca triumphed over Espanyol with a thrilling 2-1 victory during the 28th round of La Liga at the Son Moix stadium. The match was notable for its dramatic moments, particularly Vedat Muriqi's own goal and subsequent penalty redemption.
The game began with Espanyol taking the lead through Muriqi, who accidentally scored against his own team at the 53rd minute. This own goal created early tension for Mallorca, who were seeking to secure all three points.
Initially, Espanyol looked set to capitalize on their lead after they had played strongly. Throughout the match, both teams had chances, but it wasn't until the 65th minute when Takuma Aasanо brought Mallorca back on level terms with a well-placed goal, sending the home fans pouring with joy.
The pressure mounted as the match neared its end, with both teams desperately seeking the winning goal. It was Muriqi who would once again find himself at the center of the action. Even after his initial misstep, he earned redemption moments later when he was awarded and converted a penalty kick during stoppage time, at the 90+7th minute, ensuring the win for Mallorca.
This victory marked Mallorca's return to form, snapping their streak of three consecutive draws and elevates them to seventh place on the league table with 40 points. This close position to the European competition spots highlights the significance of this win as they are just four points behind the playoff places.
On the other hand, Espanyol remains at 15th place with 28 points, just two points away from the relegation zone. This match accentuated their struggles, especially away from home. Despite showing defensive resilience, they could not secure points from their previous matches against Girona and Alaves — far from ideal as they now square up with relegation threats.
Overall, the statistics revealed Mallorca's improvement as they registered six shots on goal compared to Espanyol's two, and dominated possession with 63% against 37%. With this win, Mallorca reaffirmed their reputation as formidable competitors at Son Moix, having lost only four times at home this season.
Following the match, Mallorca's manager, Hagoba Arrasate, spoke of the importance of maintaining strong defensive strategies and maximizing their chances at home, especially as they aim for higher placement. “We must keep pushing for results because every point matters at this stage of the season,” he said.
The players of Espanyol, under the guidance of Manolo Gonzalez, have endured challenges and displayed encouraging moments but will need to refine their attacking efficiency moving forward if they aim to escape precarious positioning within the league.
With the current season progressing, the battle for positions remains tight, and both teams will be focusing on their upcoming fixtures to rally points as they seek their respective goals. Mallorca now looks toward their future matches with optimism, buoyed by this hard-fought victory.