Real Mallorca 3-2 Valencia

Real Mallorca have recorded their 13th home win of 15 against Valencia this evening. Valencia had rested star players David Villa and David Silva and were perhaps hoping they hadn't as they failed to take their chances.

Mallorca lined up with their typical home 4-4-2 formation and it worked straight from the off as winger Castro ran at the Valencian defence and smashed a shot into the visitors net after just 7 minutes. Fernando Varela twice missed a great chances shortly afterwards. And then Castro was involved in Mallorca's second as his cross was met by Cameroonian striker Pierre Webo to make it 2-0 after 21 minutes.

Moments later, Fernando Varela hit the woodwork after beating Valencia 'keeper Cesar, who was giving the starting place over former Mallorca stopper Moya. And Valencia didn't even trouble Mallorca's goal until four minutes from half-time when a Manuel Fernandes free-kick forced a good save from Dudu Aouate.

Twenty seconds into the second half, Webo should've finished the game but instead put his shot straight at Cesar. Jordi Alba did, however, pull a goal back for Valencia a minute after the break. Webo again had a great chance on 48 minutes, which he wasted.

On the hour mark, Mallorca's comfort was restored. Castro broke free of the Valencia defence and put a cross into the danger area. Manuel Fernandes put the ball into his own net following pressure from Aritz Aduriz.

As Valencia tried to rescue the game, they played their trump card twenty minutes from time. With their final substitution, they brought on David Silva – much to the anger of Ever Banega, who gave way.

As Mallorca tried to see the game out, they switched to a defensive 4-5-1. And with five minutes to go, Pablo made the Islanders sweat as he beat the offside trap to pull it back to 3-2. For the final few moments, Mallorca then switched to the ultra defensive 5-4-1.

Manuel Fernandes summed up his, and his team's, day when he was sent off for a foul on Aritz Aduriz.

'We won with authority'

Mallorca manager Gregorio Manzano stated that he felt his team 'won with authority'. “We had a great first half…. The players showed they have their eyes firmly fixed on Europe”.

The Islanders have drawn level on points again with fourth placed Sevilla on 51. However, Mallorca need to finish with more points the Sevilla due to Sevilla's greater head-to-head record. And in an attempt to do so, travel to Zaragoza on Wednesday in an attempt to dispel their poor away form.