Real Mallorca 2-1 Real Sociedad
Real Mallorca came from behind to secure a 2-1 win despite an injury to left back Pablo Cáceres overshadowing the game.
With the midday sun beating down on the Iberostar Estadi, Laudrup opted for a 4-2-3-1 with Víctor Casadesús operating as the lone striker. Tomás Pina contined in central midfield whilst Alejandro Alfaro took the main attacking midfield role with Nsue and Chori Castro on the wings.
The game didn’t get off to the best of starts with Real Sociedad taking the lead within 15 minutes. Agirretxe raced on to a through ball. Pep Martí attempted to play the offside trap but was not on the same wavelength as the rest of defence. The hole left Agirretxe with the time to loop the ball over an onrushing Dudu Aouate to make it 1-0.
By this point, Mallorca had already had a couple of good chances with Víctor guilty of missing a sitter. And they weren’t about to let the goal to the away team get them down. Emilio Nsue raced down the right wing and squared the ball for Víctor. The Spaniard managed to collect, turn and get away a shot which found its way into the corner of the goal.
Towards the close of the first half, Mallorca received a blow. Cáceres attempted to chase down a lost ball but couldn’t stop it going out of play. The Uruguayan fell when stretching taking a strong blow to his left knee. He remained motionless on the side of the pitch as Mallorca’s medical staff rushed around the pitch to help him.
The defender suffered an adductor injury in both legs and will face the next 8 to 10 weeks on the sidelines. He was replaced by Sergio Tejera, who moved to centre midfield, whilst Pep Martí filled in at left back.
Los Bermellones started off the second half better than they started the first. After a corner was cleared, the ball fell for Chori Castro who powered a strike into the goal from the edge of the Real Sociedad area to give Mallorca a 2-1 lead.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the home side. Real Sociedad twice hit the woodwork in the second half.
On the first occasion, Dudu Aouate made a fantastic one handed stop from a free kick but the ball fell perfectly for Xabi Prieto. The midfielder could only hit the post from two yards, however, with Aouate stranded.
On the second occasion, Agirretxe attempted to add to his tally when he slid to meet a cross. His strike beat Aouate but couldn’t beat the crossbar as it bounced clear.
Mallorca had chances to kill the game but once again showed a lack of instinct in front of goal with Víctor missing another fantastic opportunity. Fortunately, Mallorca lived not to regret it as they moved their tally to 6 points.
Real Sociedad head coach Philippe Montanier said, ‘it was a cruel defeat’. The cruel defeat still keeps Real Sociedad one point ahead of Mallorca in ninth place. Mallorca, meanwhile, move up into 11th above Villarreal.
Teams
Real Mallorca (4-2-3-1): Aouate; Zuiverloon, Ramis, Chico, Cáceres 
(Tejera 42); Martí, Pina ; Nsue, Alfaro (Tissone 80), Castro (Pereira 64); Víctor.
Substitutes: Calatayud (gk); Martí Crespí; Aki, Tissone, Pereira, Tejera; Hemed.
Goals: Víctor 20; Castro 49.
Real Sociedad (4-2-3-1): Bravo; C. Martínez (Estrada 82), Demidov, I. Martínez, de la Bella; Mariga (Ifrán 71), Illarramendi; Xabi Prieto, Zurutuza, Vela (Griezmann 57); Agirretxe.
Substitutes: Zubikarai (gk); Camaduró, González, Estrada; Aranburu, Griezmann; Ifrán.
Goal: Agirretxe 15.
Referee: Miguel Ángel Ayza Gámez (ESP)
Stadium: Iberostar Estadi, Palma de Mallorca
Attendance: 11,856
You can watch the goals by clicking here, thanks to IB3.