Real Madrid secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, propelling them to the top of the La Liga table with a perfect start to the season. The home side had to overcome a surprise early deficit and a string of disallowed goals to claim their third consecutive win in the league.
Mallorca stunned the home crowd in the 18th minute when Vedat Muriqi managed to score against the run of play. However, Real Madrid responded with a spectacular one-minute blitz. First, Arda Guler, after a knockdown from new signing Dean Huijsen, smashed the ball home in the 37th minute to equalize. Just a minute later, Vinicius Jr. completed the rapid-fire comeback with a precise left-footed shot from inside the box, putting his team ahead.
The second half was a tense affair as Mallorca pushed for an equalizer, but Real Madrid's defense held firm, with new left-back Álvaro Carreras making a crucial goal-line clearance. The match was not without its drama, as Real Madrid had three goals disallowed throughout the night, two from Kylian Mbappe for offside and another from Arda Guler for a handball. These calls, however, did not deter the team from maintaining their narrow lead.
In other La Liga action, Atletico Madrid's difficult start to the season continued with a 1-1 draw against Alaves, despite an early goal from Giuliano Simeone. Sevilla secured their first win of the campaign with a 2-0 victory over Girona, while Oviedo also earned their first points by defeating Real Sociedad 1-0. On Friday, Valencia claimed their first win with a convincing 3-0 performance against Getafe.
With the victory, Real Madrid takes the top spot in the league standings heading into the international break. The performances of several new players, including Arda Guler and Dean Huijsen, highlighted the depth of Xabi Alonso's squad. The team’s ability to rally from behind and navigate challenges, both from their opponents and the VAR, is going to be a talking point
