Ramis header gives Mallorca vital away win over Rayo

Real Mallorca rode their luck as they beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in Vallecas. Iván Ramis’ second half header from a Chori Castro free-kick was enough to give Los Bermellones a vital three points in a game where they were not entirely convincing.

The headline team news came in the announcement of the squad. If there was even any doubt, Gianni Zuiverloon’s future at the club appears limited after being left out of the squad despite Pau Cendrós’ suspension.  Young left back Kevin García was still missing through injury whilst Martí Crespí, Aki and Tejera all joined Zuiverloon on the ‘left out on technical decision’ list.

Caparrós, who spent the game in the stands after his appeal on a two match suspension was turned down by the Appeals Committee, chose Chico at right back with Iván Ramis being joined by returning captain José Nunes at centre back. Pep Martí also returned to the centre of midfield with Tomás Pina and João Victor both restricted to the bench. And Marvin Ogunjimi made his first league start for the club, partnered by Víctor Casadesús with Tomer Hemed dropping to the bench.

Both sides had chances but Real Mallorca had definitely started the game the brighter team. They controlled much of the first 35 minutes of the game but failed to create any clear cut chances or look as if they were able to open the scoring.

That was always going to be dangerous, particularly as the game changed heavily in Rayo’s favour for the final 10 minutes of the half. Pereira was sloppy in possession and when a wayward panic pass backwards found a Rayo shirt, the home side broke. They came down the left hand side before a fierce Trashorras strike forced a good save from Dudu Aouate.

Chico was the obvious weak link in the Mallorca defence and moments later was again beat down his flank. When the ball was crossed in Ramis was overrun with attackers and Michu easily beat him to the header. But from six yards he could only direct the ball wide.

Chico was again caught sleeping as Casado far too easily snuck in behind him but could only hit his shot into the side netting. And only a couple of minutes later, Casado again easily skinned Chico before sending in a cheeky looped shot to the far post. Aouate, backpedalling, was beaten but the ball instead hit the woodwork. And then Michu headed the ball inches wide just seconds later.

With the away side on the ropes, Assistant Coach Luci Martín was all too happy to pull his players in for half-time to regroup. And with just 8 minutes of the second half played, Mallorca made their first change with Tomás Pina coming on for Pep Martí.

It may not have had a direct impact on the game but Mallorca were certainly celebrating moments later. A Chori Castro from deep was whipped in and Iván Ramis, almost completely unchallenged, nodded the ball into the corner of the goal to give Mallorca the lead.

With more than an hour on the clock, Rayo had an appeal for a penalty turned down to add to a turned down appeal in the first half. A long ball from Casado saw Raúl Tamudo through on goal with José Nunes tracking back. Both players fell to the floor with Tamudo wanting a penalty but the referee waved the appeals away. Just like the appeal in the first half, it looked like the right decision.

As Rayo became more and more desperate, they resorted to hitting the ball as far forward as possible hoping that something fell in their favour.  Whilst this route one football was frustrating to watch, it appeared to be effective.

And then came a third penalty appeal from Rayo as an attempted cross appeared to hit Chico on the top of his arm. The referee again waved appeals away signalling that it hit his chest. He was definitely wrong as it did hit the top of his arm, but it would’ve been a very harsh decision.

Rayo’s long ball game nearly cost them too. A poor attempted long ball was easily intercepted and Mallorca put Víctor through on goal. Víctor’s suffering of Emile Hesky syndrome was still apparent, however, as he toe bunged the ball poorly over the Rayo bar.

It wasn’t to be as costly as Rayo’s misses, however, as the referee blew for full time. A vital three points for Real Mallorca. The result lifts them temporarily to 13th place in La Liga.

Teams

Rayo Vallecano (4-2-3-1): Dani; Tito, Arribas (Perea 79′), Labaka, Casado; Javi Fuego, Movilla (Delibasic 65′); Piti (Rayco 73′), Mitu, Trashorras ; Tamudo.
Substitutes: Cobeño (gk); García, Benito, Diamanka; Perea, Delibasic, Rayco.

Real Mallorca (4-4-2): Aouate; Chico , Nunes, Ramis, Cáceres; Pereira, Tissone , Martí (Pina 53′), Castro (Nsue 81′); Víctor, Ogunjimi (Alfaro 65′).
Substitutes: Calatayud (gk); Bigas; João Victor, Pina, Nsue, Alfaro; Hemed.
Goal: Ramis 56′.

Referee: Eduardo Iturralde González (ESP)
Stadium: Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas, Madrid
Attendance: 9,033

As it happened

FULL TIME: Rayo Vallecano 0-1 Real Mallorca

92 mins: That was a horrendous miss. Rayo nearly made to pay as one of their long balls was easily intercepted and Mallorca sent Víctor through on goal. The main problem being Víctor, despite being a striker, does not know how to score and toe bungs the ball over the bar. Appalling.

89 mins: From ugly football to a moment of beauty. The ball is lifted so calmly over the Mallorca defence and Perea takes it past the onrushing Aouate. Several decision to make in one as Perea goes down under the challenge, the ball rolls out of play and looking back – it looks like handball. Either a free-kick or goal kick was given. Ohhh! And Alfaro nearly killed this game. A drive from the edge of the area flies inches wide. Three minutes to be added.

88 mins: This was the reason I stopped watching most English matches. Rayo just constantly hitting the ball as far forward as possible in hope of creating something. Horrible football to watch.

86 mins: Nsue is robbed in his own third of the pitch and Rayo come forward looking for the equaliser. Nunes manages to shield the ball back to Aouate in the end but the crowd screams for a back pass. Moments later, the ball strikes Chico on the arm. Referee says no penalty.

81 mins – REAL MALLORCA SUBSTITUTION: Chori Castro makes way and is replaced by Emilio Nsue. Nsue has not had the best of seasons despite his hard efforts. Terry Gibson said during the Real Madrid game that Nsue came through the ranks too late to progress quick enough. Something he aimed squarely at Gregorio Manzano who was never a fan of developing youth.

79 mins – RAYO VALLECANO SUBSTITUTION: Final change for Rayo as their 21-year-old striker Perea comes on for defender Arribas. Another attacking change.

77 mins: Now Chico goes in the book for a poorly timed challenge. He has not had the best of games today, Chico.

73 mins – RAYO VALLECANO SUBSTITUTION: Rayco is on for Piti.

72 mins: I really do hate ‘tackles’ like that. Alejandro Alfaro breaks away on the counter attack and skips past challenge. Trashorras can get no way near him so literally aims for his ankles to trip him up so he can go no further. He happily takes his yellow card knowing that it could’ve been much worse if Alfaro went on.

65 mins – RAYO VALLECANO SUBSTITUTION: Attacking change from the home side. Former Mallorca striker Andrija Delibasic is on for defensive midfielder Movilla.

65 mins – REAL MALLORCA SUBSTITUTION: Alejandro Alfaro is on for Marvin Ogunjimi, who has been very quiet today. Is this 4-2-3-1 from Caparrós?

63 mins: Rayo have penalty appeals turned down. Casado hit a long ball which Tamduo and Nunes chased into the area. They both suspiciously fall to the floor. Referee waves play on. Looks like the right call.

56 mins – REAL MALLORCA GOAL: Will Rayo’s missed chances at the end of that first half come back to haunt them? Chori Castro whips in a free-kick and Iván Ramis, almost completely unchallenged, nods the ball into the goal to give Mallorca the lead. 1-0.

55 mins: Now that was a let off for Aouate. The ball is played back to him and he makes a hash of his clearance which is immediately intercepted. The ball comes back to Rayo’s furthest man forward who flicks it over the top of the ‘keeper. It beats Aouate but hits the post. The linesman’s flag was up anyway.

53 mins – REAL MALLORCA SUBSTITUTION: First change not long into the second half. Tomás Pina is brought on for Pep Martí who is currently on a yellow card.

50 mins: We are back underway in Vallecas. We’re actually five minutes into the second half but there was a jam sandwich and a brew calling so I missed it…

HALF TIME: Rayo Vallecano 0-0 Real Mallorca
Well, well, well. It’s half-time and for 35 minutes it was Real Mallorca who were by far the better side without ever really looking like scoring. But in the final ten minutes of the half Mallorca were on the ropes as Rayo could’ve hit four or five. They will be content to go in level at half-time after that period. But it is down the Mallorca right where they look extremely vulnerable with Chico being the clear weak link. Why on earth is Zuiverloon not even in the squad? Bigas is the only defender on the bench.

45 mins: I’m not sure whether this is to give his team a bit of breathing time or whether he is actually hurt, but Aouate is on the floor receiving treatment. He appears to have pick up a knock from when Casado hit the bar. I’ve seen the replay. He skins Chico with ease before aiming for the far corner. Lovely bit of play from the left back.

42 mins: A flick-on slices open the Mallorca defence but Ramis just about manages to shield the ball away from Pitu back to Aouate, who was quick off his line. The three clash however leaving Aouate holding his knee. He appears to be okay now though. ¡¡¡¡HUYYYYYYYYY!!!! And Casado has just hit the crossbar!!!! I don’t know if he meant it or whether it was a cross gone wrong but Aouate was back pedalling and couldn’t get there. Ohhh!!! Michu has just headed the ball inches wide. Caparrós needs to get his side in to regroup – they are on the ropes.

39 mins: ANOTHER chance for Rayo. Embarrassing from Chico as he falls to sleep allowing Casado to far too easily sneak in behind him. The left back can only fire into the side netting. You genuinely see the moment when Chico wakes up and realises he has let Casado in on goal. Far too sloppy.

37 mins: That was ambitious to say the least from Iván Ramis. He intercepts possession on the half way line, sees the ‘keeper off his line, and shoots. Wasn’t too far wide. Never going to beat the goalkeeper, however.

36 mins: They’re getting closer. That really should’ve been 1-0. Ramis gets overrun in the centre of defence and when the ball comes in Michu easily beats him to the header but it goes wide. Really should’ve done better from 6 yards. Mallorca need to shape up. They’ve lost it in these last few minutes.

35 mins: Yellow card number two goes to Tissone for a late challenge. Bit harsh, but understandable.

34 mins: That was a fantastic chance – best of the game – for Rayo Vallecano. Michael Pereira is too sloppy and runs into trouble. His panic pass backwards in waywards and Rayo broke. They burst down the left hand side before pulling the ball back for Tashorras. His fierce strike forces a good save out of Aouate.

30 mins: And that is the first yellow card. Pep Martí goes flying into a challenge and gets no way near the ball giving the referee no option. This is just moments after Rayo claim a penalty for handball against Ramis. It was from point blank range and you can’t really tell whether it hit his chest or the top of his arm. Would’ve been very harsh.

27 mins: Chico was next in line to wrap his foot around the opposition’s ankles. Referee seems determined to keep his cards in his pocket today. Chico hasn’t started so well at right back. I don’t understand Laudrup and Caparrós’ dislike towards Zuiverloon? Meanwhile, Cáceres concedes a corner.

26 mins: Foul by Víctor Casadesús. The referee gives him a good warning. The next will be a yellow. He gave the attacker a good kick round the ankles.

24 mins: There have been chances for both sides but Mallorca have definitely started the strongest. Neither look like breaking the deadlock just yet, though.

17 mins: Mallorca have a free-kick from distance and Chori Castro whips the ball in. It’s curling in towards the corner of the goal but a defender gets his head in the way.

14 mins: So the headline news is that despite Cendrós ruled out of today’s game with suspension, Gianni Zuiverloon didn’t even make the squad. Chico instead plays at right back with Nunes and Ramis in the centre. There is also a starting debut for Marvin Ogunjimi. Tomer Hemed drops to the bench.

05 mins: Mallorca looking to play on the counter again today and this suits Chori Castro just fine. He bursts away at speed jumping through challenges before being dispossessed.

03 mins: Pereira drives forward on the counter but his through ball for Ogunjimi is hit too hard and the goalkeeper collects.

00 mins: So the home side get us underway in Vallecas. The team lineups will be with you shortly, below. The page will reload itself with the latest commentary every 2 minutes. So what’s the betting this game will be alot closer than it should be?

1451: Welcome to Vallecas for matchday one of this new La Liga season. Will Mallorca bring in a vital three points to open the season with? What do you mean it’s January?