Real Mallorca pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory over Girona on Saturday, December 14, 2024, marking another significant moment in the Spanish La Liga. Despite starting the match with adversity, including trailing and losing key player Vedat Muriqi to a red card early on, Mallorca showcased resilience and tactical execution.
The afternoon began poorly for the hosts when Girona's Donny van de Beek opened the scoring just seven minutes after kickoff. The Dutch midfielder netted with a crisp volley, catching Mallorca off guard and setting the tone for the match. Mallorca, needing to regroup quickly, found their footing and began pushing back against Girona's early surge.
Things took another turn for the worse for Mallorca when Muriqi, who had assisted Mallorca's equalizer, was dismissed by referee Francisco Jose Fernandez after 32 minutes. The dismissal was assessed following a VAR review, which concluded Muriqi’s challenge on Girona’s Bryan Gil was overly dangerous, leading to his straight red card. At this point, Mallorca faced the challenge of continuing the match with ten players.
With the odds stacked against them, the hosts did not falter. Just moments after Muriqi's exit, Cyle Larin spearheaded Mallorca's response. Larin leveled the match at 1-1 with his goal in the 20th minute, following what became known as one of Mallorca's well-executed counter-attacks. The Canadian international's persistence shone through as he cut through Girona’s defenses, setting up the stage for the remainder of the match.
After the break, Larin struck again, clinching his second goal of the match just six minutes after halftime, at the 51-minute mark. This put Mallorca ahead 2-1, much to the delight of their home fans, who had witnessed their team overcome considerable odds. This was Larin's fourth league goal of the season, emphasizing his growing impact on Mallorca’s performance.
Even with their one-man disadvantage, Mallorca managed to maintain their lead and held firm against Girona's attempts to equalize. Girona continued to apply pressure but was unable to break through the resilient Mallorca defense, leading to their defeat. Post-match, Girona's coach Michel expressed his frustration with his side's inability to capitalize on opportunities and deliver the necessary intensity. "The lack of intensity is always what worries me the most," Michel lamented, underscoring the team's need for improvement.
Girona's form has been particularly troubling, extending to six matches across all competitions without victory, including three consecutive league games. Michel reflected on the mounting pressure, stating, "We made a mistake, and they made it 2-1, and we resorted more to hurrying than to football to turn it around." His concerns centered around their lack of collective team play, which he deemed necessary for success. "Football is played collectively, and we didn't play well," Michel candidly noted.
Looking forward, Girona is set to face Real Valladolid next weekend, which will be followed by another fixture against Alaves on January 12. The coach is hopeful for improvements, adding, "We do have the squad to fight for Europe, but I haven’t found the key and the responsibility is mine. I have to improve and make the players attack and defend together, not individually."
Meanwhile, this victory elevated Mallorca to fifth place on the La Liga table with 27 points, bringing them closer to the upper echelons of the league, which is currently led by Barcelona with 38 points and Real Madrid with 36 points. Despite their challenge of playing with fewer men, Mallorca's performance demonstrated the team's strength and determination—a hallmark of their campaign this season.
Overall, Saturday’s game not only highlighted the thrilling intensity of La Liga but also underscored the challenges faced by teams like Girona, teetering on the brink as they grapple with inconsistency and performance pressures. Mallorca, on the other hand, proved their mettle, hinting at brighter prospects as the season progresses.
