Real Mallorca thrash hapless Villarreal 4-0 in Palma

Real Mallorca defied expectations by thrashing a hapless Villarreal 4-0 at the Iberostar Estadi in Palma. Two goals from Cantera graduate Víctor Casadesús and a goal apiece from veteran leaders Pep Martí and José Nunes secured the points for Los Bermellones.

Despite their poor start to the season, Villarreal had turned their fortunes around with a change of Head Coach. José Francisco Molina replaced Juan Carlos Garrido and provided a ‘change of style which [Villarreal] desperately needed,’ according to Villarreal USA editor Allen Dodson.

Mallorca too had had a change of Head Coach since the last meeting between these two sides. The 2-0 result in the reverse fixture was the final excruciatingly poor performance from a Michael Laudrup Mallorca team. And since Caparrós’ appointment, Mallorca have since steadily improved their performances to ease fans concerns of another relegation battle.

Martí Crespí once again continued at right back ahead of Gianni Zuiverloon. Meanwhile, Tomer Hemed and Víctor Casadesús were given the nod up front ahead of Marvin Ogunjimi. For Villarreal, former Mallorca midfielder Jonathan de Guzmán could only make the bench.

Mallorca started well and could’ve taken the lead early on when Iván Ramis went close with a free-kick.

The Spaniard was involved in another Mallorca chance when he came steaming in at the back post to meet a corner. He headed the ball back and José Nunes volleyed over the bar.

A rush of blood to the head saw Diego López into the referee’s notebook. With the Villarreal defence backpedalling, Tomer Hemed raced onto the end of a through ball. Despite his momentum clearly taking him towards the corner flag, López came charging out of goal and took Hemed out with a poorly timed challenge on the edge of the area.

From the resulting Chori Castro free-kick, Víctor Casadesús found himself in acres of space just six yards from the centre goal and got his head to the cross to give Mallorca a 1-0 lead with just four minutes of the first half remaining.

In an attempt to turn around his team’s poor first half performance, Molina brought Martinuccio on for Camuñas. But it was to no avail as Mallorca doubled their lead within 8 minutes of the restart.

Diego López was again at fault as he came to deal with another Chori Castro free-kick. His attempted punch was poor and the ball fell for Pep Martí who headed over the defenders and into the goal despite the acrobatic attempts of Gonzalo.

More poor defending allowed a flowing Mallorca move to add a third. Martí Crespí easily won possession in the Mallorca half and immediately set off on the counter attack. He played the ball for Chori Castro who started a dash from the half way line. A perfectly weighted ball allowed Víctor to readjust his run and control before firing past Diego López for number three.

And with 67 minutes on the clock, Mallorca rounded off the victory. Another Chori Castro assist, this time from a corner, saw José Nunes rise at the back post to power home a header for 4-0. Did you enoy that, Sr. Roig?

The victory sends Mallorca up to 12th in La Liga whilst Molina’s honeymoon period at Villarreal has its first setback. They drop down to 17th.

Despite his side’s poor performance, and perhaps not learning from his predecessor’s mistakes, Molina said after the game that, ’4-0 did not reflect the performances of the teams’. Meanwhile, Caparrós stuck with revealing his happiness ‘for the players and fans’.

The real thing that comes from this, however, is the fact that an attempt at the very least should be made to extend Chori Castro’s contract.

Teams

Real Mallorca (4-4-2): Aouate; Martí Crespí (Zuiverloon 72′), Nunes , Ramis, Cáceres; Pereira, Tissone (Pina 82′), Martí, Castro; Víctor, Hemed (Alfaro 67′).
Substitutes: Calatayud (gk); Zuiverloon; Pina, Alfaro, Nsue; Álvaro, Ogunjimi.
Goals: Víctor 41′, 65′; Martí 53′; Nunes 67.

Villarreal (4-2-3-1): Diego López ; Mario, Gonzalo, Musacchio, Oriol; Senna (Hernán Pérez 81′), Bruno; Cani (Castellani 68′), Borja Valero, Camuñas (Martinuccio 45′); Rubén.
Substitutes: César (gk); Marchena, Zapata; de Guzmán, Hernán Pérez, Castellani; Martinuccio.

Referee: Alfonso Álvarez Izquierdo (ESP)
Stadium: Iberostar Estadi, Palma de Mallorca
Attendance: 12,881.

You can watch highlights courtesy of IB3.