A Perfect Beginning
Mallorca opened 2011 with a sublime performance at the Iberostar Estadi to see off Hercules 3-0 and begin the year on a high. Los Bermellones were desperate to put December’s poor run of form behind them and returned from the Christmas break with intent. On this evidence, they have banished all demons and will now look ahead to the new year’s fixtures with a spring in their step, eager to build on the fresh start they have made.
Els Barralets dominated from the start but the worry as the game wore on was that they still lacked a clinical finish up front. Too many times this season’s home matches have been characterised by Mallorca’s distinct lack of cutting edge: they have been in control of the game and had more possession, yet been unable to find the back of the net. When Webó’s bullet header was saved in the first few minutes, and the linesman later correctly ruled out a second-chance attempt due to offside, it seemed like it could be yet another of those days for Mallorca.
Then two quick-fire goals just before half time, the first a lucky tap-in from Nsue, the second a neat control and finish from Victór after a superb headed pass from Webó, gave Mallorca the lead they both craved and deserved. Hercules had been hanging on, perhaps looking to emulate Racing’s last-minute exploits, but in a matter of minutes the complexion of the game had changed and Mallorca had the goals that their domination warranted. When Pereira struck the third just after half time, the game was all but over.
Despite Hercules opening up their game and beginning to attack more after conceding the third, there was a period where, despite a few moments of pressure at the back, Mallorca only seemed to look better and stronger. Los Bermellones thrive on their ability to counter attack, and every time Hercules threw men forward Mallorca were razor sharp, looking like they had the ability to score with every attack. In this sense it’s a disappointment that Los Bermellones didn’t manage to add to the score line, but it underlines the potential the squad has when able to play in a counter-attacking manner, and shows that with a little more incisiveness, the team should be able to finish games off more consistently.
As the game continued, though, Mallorca seemed to take their foot off the pedal more and more and as a result Hercules began to carve out increasingly dangerous chances. Els Barralets continued to counter-attack but the motivation to get themselves ahead was no longer there; the players seemed to feel the game was won and lost a bit of pace and aggression accordingly. With a tough Copa del Rey match coming up – where Mallorca will look to overturn the 4-3 deficit from the first leg against Almería – this lack of overexertion certainly shouldn’t be frowned upon or criticised too much. The only worry, perhaps, is that Mallorca lost a bit of their momentum in doing so: given the choice, they would probably have preferred to end the game on a high instead of allowing it to fizzle out.
It must be remembered, of course, that Laudrup’s tactics also influenced this decline – switching to a defensive formation once the game was won – but he must be commended in the first place for starting with a positive, attacking formation with two up front. This approach shouldn’t be taken for granted, as it’s not always his preferred method.
But this is all somewhat beside the point. After all, if these are the largest complaints about the performance, then the team is definitely doing something right.
Amongst the star performers in the team, Víctor Casadesús repaid Laudrup’s faith with a good performance up front, including another brilliantly taken goal and an assist. His effectiveness in the final third has often been the main thing that lets him down – you cannot fault much of his build up play and his work ethic – but if he can become more consistent and continue to finish like this, there may be no more complaints concerning Cavenaghi. What’s more, Mallorca may just have the firepower they need to see them through to the end of the season.
Perhaps the man of the match, though, was Michael Pereira, who notched Mallorca’s third with a clinical finish from a tight angle after bursting into space. Pereira played from the left wing and in his past appearances there he hasn’t always looked convincing; today, however, he was constantly involved in the attack and was extremely threatening to Hercules on numerous occasions. In a season filled with the breakthroughs of a variety of players from the academy, Pereira has been at the forefront, impressing many times when he has played. Like much of the squad he still has room to improve, but on the basis of today’s performance he has done much to ease the worries of Los Bermellones’ fans: there may well be life after Gonzalo Castro, should his expected departure leave the left wing position vacant.
Up next for Mallorca, then, is the return leg of the Copa del Rey against Almería. Los Bermellones need to overturn a 4-3 deficit but they’re at home, and with the away goals advantage all they will need to do is manage a single goal to edge through. The tie is certainly up for grabs, so one would hope that with the confidence gained from this evening’s barnstorming victory they should be able to surge forwards into the next round.
Mallorca were roundly criticised after a desperately disappointing month that let all the momentum they had built up slip away, but they’ve responded with character and they now have the chance to build up new momentum to go along with their perfect beginning to the new year.
by Phil Montgomery