Real Mallorca 0-1 RCD Espanyol
Espanyol clinched a rare away win and ended Mallorca’s unbeaten start to the season at home with a well-earned single-goal victory at the Iberostar Estadi. And if it wasn’t for Dudu Aouate, the result could’ve been bigger.
Laudrup surprised many when he announced Kevin García would keep his place in the starting XI despite the return to fitness of both Ayoze and Enrique Corrales. In addition to Kevin, Martí Crespí managed to hold his place in the starting XI over the more established Rubén in the absence of captain José Nunes.
It didn’t start too badly for Los Bermellones, with Cavenaghi having three chances. One goal wrongly ruled offside, a penalty appeal turned down and a good chance go just wide. He was unlucky not to reach the end of a Víctor cross later in the game too.
But it was Blanc i Blau who took the lead just after the half hour mark, when striker Luis García was felled “in the box” by a push from young left back Kevin García, and the former Spanish international took responsibility for the kick himself, drilling home from the spot to give the visitors a surprise lead. Despite his good performances, Kevin’s moment of inexperience cost dearly making Laudrup’s decision to include him ahead of Ayoze and Corrales backfire.
Mallorca were handed a boost, however, when Espanyol’s Pablo Osvaldo was given a controversial red card moments later for an apparent headbutt on Crespí, and the referee was left in no doubt that the former Bologna striker had to be dismissed.
However, Mauricio Pochettino’s battlers held on to defend their lead in the face of adversity and secure three points that moves them up to the heady heights of sixth place.
original article by Goal.com, further reporting by realmallorca.co.uk
Teams
Real Mallorca (4-4-2): Aouate; Ratinho, Ramís, Martí Crespí, Kevin; Nsue (Pereira 57), Martí (c), de Guzmán, Castro; Cavenaghi (Sergi 75), Víctor (Webó 57).
Substitutes: Lux; Ayoze, Rubén; Pereira, Joao Victor; Webó, Sergi Enrich.
RCD Espanyol (4-5-1): Álvarez; Chica, Forlín, D Ruiz, García; Duscher, Márquez (Baena 74); Luis García, Verdú (Javi López 87) Callejón (Vázquez 67); Osvaldo.
Substitutes: Dinu, Dátolo, Raúl Rodríguez, Javi López, Baena, Álvaro Vázquez, Sergio García.
Goal: Luis García 31 pen.