Fans reacted angrily following Real Madrid’s 1-0 home victory against Mallorca in La Liga on Wednesday (January 3).
Carlo Ancelotti’s team went three points clear of second-placed Girona and ten points clear of reigning champions Barcelona after Antonio Rudiger scored the game’s sole goal 12 minutes from time at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It was a gritty game, with Brahim Diaz hitting the woodwork despite having an empty net at his disposal. Mallorca, for their part, struck the crossbar both before and after Rudiger’s late headed winner, which was assisted by Luka Modric.
Diaz had entered the game at the hour mark in place of the returning Vinicius Jr., who was playing in his first competitive game in over two months. Ancelotti’s team eventually won all three points, but the manner of the win did not impress supporters.
“10 points ahead of Barca,” one user tweeted.
Another person commented:
“We can’t afford to keep playing like that”
Here are the most popular responses on X:
🏁 @realmadriden 1-0 @RCD_MallorcaEN
⚽️ 78' @ToniRuediger#Emirates | #RealMadridRCDMallorca pic.twitter.com/TqFpvDsKu9— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 3, 2024
10 points ahead of Barca 😭😭😭😭🐶🐶🐶🐶
— fan account (@Asensii20) January 3, 2024
we can't afford to keep playing like that
— veebeeaisdee (@veebeeaisdee) January 3, 2024
FT: Real Madrid 1-0 Mallorca.
A late goal from Rüdiger secures 3 very important points for Real Madrid! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Fs2RVpxy9U
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) January 3, 2024
Mallorca was robbed but we are not ready for this discussion
— ʏıṅҡѧ (@iamhbozz) January 3, 2024
ROBBBBBBEEEDDDDDD
— Bisswas Culer🇳🇵 (@culerboi) January 3, 2024
ALL HAIL THE MAN OF THE MATCH!✊✊ pic.twitter.com/SMDz5poDSn
— Don Paschal ⚖️ (@Don_pasy) January 3, 2024
Undeserved win if we're being honest
— Faawaz🚀 (@UTD_Faawaz) January 3, 2024
It's lonely at the top!
— AddgRMA (@AddgRma) January 3, 2024
The victory was Madrid’s 15th of the season, putting them three points ahead of Girona (45), who hosts third-placed Atletico Madrid later in the day. Barcelona is tied on points with the Rojiblancos (38) in fourth place, but behind on goal difference.
What does the future hold for Real Madrid?
Real Madrid began the second half of their season with a crucial, but unimpressive, home victory against Mallorca.
On Saturday (January 7), the La Liga giants will travel to Arandina in the Copa del Rey Round of 32. Carlo Ancelotti’s team will next fly to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the Spanish Super Cup, where they will face off against cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid in the semifinals on January 10.
Last season, Los Blancos reached the competition’s final, but were defeated 3-1 by Barcelona. If they defeat Atletico, they may face their arch-rivals again in the championship match. The Blaugrana, the reigning champions, begin their season against Osasuna.