Mueez Ajao

– Atletico Madrid recovered from conceding an early goal to beat Mallorca 3-1 in LaLiga on Wednesday, a result that put them two points behind their second-placed city rivals Real Madrid.

– With seven games to play, third-placed Atletico climbed to 63 points, closing the gap to Real, who lost 4-2 at Girona on Tuesday. Barcelona, top with 76 points, can extend their lead when they face Rayo Vallecano later on Wednesday.

– Celebrating their 120th anniversary in front of a nearly sold-out Metropolitano Stadium and wearing a blue and white kit inspired by the one they used in their first match in 1903, Atletico fell behind in the 19th minute after Mallorca defender Matija Nastasic scored with a header from a corner.

Also Read: Atletico Madrid president wants to see Messi and Ronaldo back in LaLiga

– But Atletico took control of the match, creating several opportunities mainly through in-form Antoine Griezmann, who is in contention for LaLiga’s player of the season.

– The referee initially awarded Atletico a penalty for a foul on Nahuel Molina inside the box, but reversed his decision after checking the VAR replay.

– Atletico recovered, netting twice within two minutes at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second.

– Rodrigo de Paul scored in added time before the break with a close-range strike and right after half-time Alvaro Morata netted with a towering header from a perfect Molina cross.

– Yannick Carrasco wrapped up the points from a counter-attack in the 76th minute, collecting a brilliant long pass from Griezmann and dribbling around the goalkeeper before tapping into the empty goal.

FT: #AtletiRCDMallorca 3-1

🎂 Atleti celebrate with a comeback victory!#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/ehLY9UrNEN

— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) April 26, 2023

Mueez Ajao

– Mallorca have revoked a fan’s membership card for three years after the supporter hurled racist insults at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior and Villarreal’s Samu Chukwueze.

– In February, Mallorca fans were filmed racially abusing the 22-year-old Brazil international in a video published after their 1-0 win against Real.

– One of those supporters was identified as having racially abused Nigeria winger Chukwueze in the fixture against Villarreal two weeks later.

Also Read: Vinicius bemoans treatment from referees after another yellow card

– “The Club’s Ethics Committee sanctions with the withdrawal of the membership card for three years the fan who uttered xenophobic insults to both Real Madrid CF player Vinicius Junior and Samu Chukwueze, Villarreal CF player,” the LaLiga club said in a statement on Tuesday

– “Mallorca is against all xenophobic manifestations and will continue to work actively to eradicate this scourge.”

– Vinicius, who has been subjected to racial abuse on at least three occasions, accused LaLiga of continuing to do nothing about racist fans at matches after videos on social media showed some supporters shouting abuse and throwing objects at him.

– Real Valladolid suspended 12 season ticket holders in February for abusing Vinicius during a LaLiga match in December.

– The growing wave of racist insults against the Brazil international escalated after a mannequin wearing his No. 20 shirt was hung from a bridge outside his club’s training ground in January, which Spanish police are investigating as a possible hate crime.

Mueez Ajao

– Carlo Ancelotti defended Vinicius after the forward was involved in more heated exchanges with Mallorca’s players in Real Madrid’s 1-0 LaLiga defeat at Son Moix, saying “the only thing Vinicius wants to do is play football.”

– Defender Nacho scored a first-half own goal before Marco Asensio had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic, leaving Madrid five points behind Barcelona, who host Sevilla later on Sunday.

– Vinicius had clashed with Mallorca players in their previous two meetings, with Mallorca captain Antonio Raillo claiming this week that the Brazil international wasn’t a good role model.

Also Read: Asensio misses penalty as Mallorca give Madrid ‘real shock’

– “Everything that’s happening isn’t Vinicius’ fault,” Ancelotti said in his postmatch news conference. “The only thing that Vinicius wants to do is play football. Beyond that, there’s an atmosphere. Opponents put pressure on him, they provoke him, they foul him.

– “I think the focus has to change. Everyone thinks it’s Vinicius’ fault, but we have to look at the game today and what happened.”

– Madrid would fall eight points behind leaders Barcelona if they beat relegation-threatened Sevilla at Camp Nou.

– “It’s a defeat that hurts a lot,” Ancelotti said. “But it was the game we expected and we prepared for it, a difficult game with a lot of fouls, a lot of stoppages… We didn’t play badly, especially in the second half. Conceding early affected us a lot, and we missed a penalty.”

💬 @MrAncelotti: “The early goal and the missed penalty really affected us."#RCDMallorcaRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/U030XtSKXC

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 5, 2023

– He added: “We’ll fight for the league until the end. It isn’t over yet. There are a lot of games left, and what happened to us today can happen in any game.”

– Ancelotti said goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois would undergo medical tests on Monday after pulling out of the Mallorca game in the warm-up.

– Madrid travel to Morocco this week to compete in the Club World Cup, starting with Wednesday’s semifinal against Al Ahly.

Mueez Ajao

– Real Madrid slipped up in their bid to retain the LaLiga title after suffering a shock 1-0 defeat at Mallorca on Sunday.

– Mallorca took the lead in the 13th minute through a bizarre own goal from Nacho and Los Blancos couldn’t find an equaliser.

– Nacho left his teammates stunned as he tried to clear a cross and headed the ball high over his own goalkeeper and into the net.

Also Read: Madrid cruise past Valencia to close gap on Barca

– Carlo Ancelotti’s side had a golden chance for a breakthrough on the hour mark but Marco Asensio saw his penalty saved by Predrag Rajkovic.

PREDRAG RAJKOVIĆ!! 🧤

The Mallorca keeper denies Asensio from the spot.

📺 Watch the game LIVE on #LaLigaTV via @ViaplaySportsUK & @primevideouk Channels! pic.twitter.com/5hPYvqbuuj

— LaLigaTV (@LaLigaTV) February 5, 2023

– The defeat means that Barcelona can extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points if they beat Sevilla on Saturday night.

– There was also another setback for Madrid as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered an injury before the match and was replaced by Andriy Lunin.

– Karim Benzema was also missing through injury and Carlo Ancelotti will be hopeful both the striker and Courtois will return to action in time to face Liverpool in the Champions League later this month.

FT #RCDMallorcaRealMadrid 1-0

❤️ @RCD_Mallorca shock Real Madrid ❤️#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/iPqqYQyxRg

— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) February 5, 2023