Player Ratings: Mallorca 0-3 Real Madrid – 2021/22
Real Madrid ease past Mallorca and move 10 points clear at the top of LaLiga thanks to a goal from Vinicius and a Benzema double.
Ancelotti’s men got off to a slow start, failing to score in the first-half for the tenth time in the last eleven matches.
The deadlock was broken after 55 minutes with Vinicius beating Sergio Rico. Benzema teed up Vinicius for the opener before the Brazilian was later fouled for a penalty, allowing the Frenchman to double Madrid’s lead.
With under 10 minutes left, Benzema netted his eighth goal in five games after heading home from a cross sent into the box by Marcelo, who had just come off the bench to replace Ferland Mendy.
It wasn’t all good news however, as Benzema, Mendy and Rodrygo all limped off the pitch after picking up knocks just a few days before Sunday’s Clasico.
Player ratings:
Starting XI:
Thibaut Courtois: 7/10
A relatively quiet night for the Belgian who was rarely tested throughout the ninety minutes.
Lucas Vazquez: 7/10
Started tonight’s game after his decent showing against PSG last Wednesday. The Galician continued his fine form, making six tackles – the most in the Real Madrid team tonight.
Nacho: 8/10
Started tonight’s game after Militao dropped out of the squad due to illness. The Spaniard made a fantastic last-ditch tackle to deny Ángel Rodríguez and was solid all night.
David Alaba: 7.5/10
Other than a slight scare in the second-half when the Austrian missed a clearance, Alaba was rarely troubled.
Ferland Mendy: 6.5/10
Rodrygo Goes: 5/10
Karim Benzema: 9/10
Vinicius Jr: 9/10
Substitutions:
Luka Modric: 7/10 – Came on to replace Valverde. The Croatian helped his team see out the game.
Eduardo Camavinga: 7/10 – Came on to replace Casemiro. The Frenchman continued where Casemiro left off, making three tackles during his time on the pitch.
Dani Carvajal: 6/10 – Came on to replace Vazquez.
Marco Asensio: 6/10 – Came on to replace the injured Rodrygo.
Marcelo: 7/10 – Came on to replace the injured Mendy. The Brazilian assisted Benzema’s second of the night with a brilliant cross.
