Third Time’s the Charm

There was no sense of déjà vu in Mallorca’s third match with Almería in four games as they managed a convincing 4-1 victory at the Iberostar Estadi this afternoon. If this was Groundhog Day for Mallorca then it seemed like they would only allowed to progress after managing a victory; after this excellent result, they can finally now look ahead to the next fixture… against a different team.

If Almería were expecting another stroll towards victory then they were bitterly disappointed, for in this game Mallorca’s defence were a different proposition altogether to the one they rifled eight goals past in two games. Laudrup rang in the changes and reverted to his preferred four of Cendrós, Nunes, Ramis and Kevin, and they were a far cry from the floodgates of the Copa as they kept the visitors at relative ease, at least until Crusat’s clinical curling effort midway through the second half. Give the manager credit for this if you must, but this only seems to cast some doubts over his decision making. Obviously the league is of a higher priority than the Copa, but that doesn’t mean the team should simply roll over and let themselves get eliminated when there was everything to play for.

With that in mind, then, what possessed Laudrup to change all four members of the defence that had served him well for most of the season? Players need to be rested and can’t play every game, sure, but wouldn’t it make more sense to keep at least one or two of the established first-team regulars in for the Copa, if only just to give the team a bit of solidity at the back? It seems like a much more reasonable solution, and the defence’s success today only serves to highlight their incompetence during the week, and this all stems from the manager’s decisions.

With the defence back to its best Mallorca’s attack stole the show with some impressive flowing moves and their swift, incisive approach. Michael Pereira notched up Mallorca’s fourth goal and he is a player who impresses me more and more every time he plays. He seems to be getting on the score-sheet with increasing regularity and was a constant threat for Almería’s defence, running them ragged alongside his attacking counterparts.

Víctor Casadesús also continued his great run of form as of late with another goal, though he has João Victor to thank for this after his great work winning the ball back on the right wing led to a simple tap-in for the striker. But perhaps Casadesús’ most important touch of the match was, ironically, not a touch at all: immediately after Almería clawed one back to shake Mallorca’s nerves, Los Bermellones made it 3-1 when Víctor wisely allowed Webó’s pass to roll through to Nsue for a confident strike. It was a moment that reversed any momentum Almería felt they had gained and ensured the hosts remained in control of the match, and I can’t commend Víctor enough for his awareness in that attack when many other players may have taken the ball themselves and destroyed the move entirely.

After Cavenaghi picked up a slight injury at the end of his impressive match in the Copa midweek, Laudrup was justified in leaving him on the bench for this one, and he didn’t end up featuring at all. The optimist would say that it’s wise to leave him on the bench, especially when he isn’t required, but there’s a nagging feeling that even if he had been fully fit Laudrup still wouldn’t have chosen to incorporate him into his plans. This remains to be seen, of course, but the manager now has a real decision to make when Cavenaghi returns to peak fitness. He would be somewhat justified in keeping him on the bench based on today’s form, where Mallorca’s wealth of attacking talent didn’t require his presence. But should their form wane and the goals dry up, Laudrup may be forced to turn to the Argentine, if his stubbornness permits.

This result was exactly what Mallorca needed after the midweek disappointment: a confident, convincing win that results in both revenge and redemption for the players. Los Bermellones are out of the Copa but they can now focus all their attention on the league, and they have gotten 2011 off to a flying start in that respect. Given that the next two matches see Mallorca travel to Madrid to face Atlético and then Real, it was imperative that Els Barralets picked up these essential points while they could.

The pressure has eased a little now, and the team can aim for some good performances against the Madrid sides and hope for at least point from both. If they play like they did today, it’s well within Mallorca’s counter-attacking capability to get good results no matter who they play against.

And after all, this will be Mallorca’s third league game of the new year, and they’re looking for their third win in a row… what’s that old saying again?

by Phil Montgomery