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Muriqi strikes late as Mallorca stun Real Madrid / Photo: © AFP
Muriqi strikes late as Mallorca stun Real Madrid
Vedat Muriqi snatched Mallorca a surprise 2-1 La Liga win over Real Madrid on Saturday to deal Los Blancos a significant blow in the Spanish title race.
Alvaro Arbeloa's side thought they had rescued a point after Eder Militao nodded home with two minutes remaining before Muriqi pounced in stoppage time to help the hosts climb to 17th.
The defeat leaves second-place Real Madrid four points behind leaders Barcelona, who visit Atletico Madrid later on Saturday.
Arbeloa started the game with Vinicius Junior on the bench, with Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich in mind.
Madrid lacked spark in the first half, creating few openings of note. The best was for top scorer Kylian Mbappe, fit after a knee sprain that has troubled him for months.
Arda Guler rolled a ball in behind Mallorca's defence for the French superstar to dart on to but Leo Roman saved with his leg.
The goalkeeper denied Mbappe again after Eduardo Camavinga fed him and Antonio Rudiger also nodded over from a corner.
Manu Morlanes threatened for Mallorca, heading just over, but Madrid did not heed the warning.
The midfielder opened the scoring a few minutes later, losing Camavinga and arriving into the box to fire Pablo Maffeo's cross into the bottom corner past Andriy Lunin.
Leo Roman saved from Mbappe early in the second half as Madrid searched for an equaliser.
Arbeloa sent on Vinicius, Jude Bellingham and Militao for his first appearance since December after injury.
Madrid huffed and puffed but to little avail as Martin Demichelis's Mallorca stayed solid at the back until the final stages.
They were eventually undone by Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner, whipped towards Militao, who powered a header into the top corner.
However there was a sting in the tail for Madrid.
Muriqi, second top scorer in the division behind Mbappe, lashed past Lunin in the 91st minute to claim three points for his side with his 18th league goal of the campaign.
Mallorca climbed two points clear of the drop zone after recording a famous victory, which the players celebrated gleefully with the fans at the end.
A. Walsh--BTZ
