Antonio Rudiger’s second-half goal gave LaLiga leaders Real Madrid a 1-0 home win over Mallorca on Wednesday, extending their unbeaten run in the league to 13 games.
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Centre-back Rudiger broke the deadlock in the 78th minute as he took advantage of some weak defending from a corner and fired a header into the top corner for his first goal of the season.
“Great cross by Luca, great block by (Dani) Carvajal and luckily it went in,” Rudiger told reporters. “I’m happy because it was an important goal and three important points for us. There is something special in this team, a good mix of young and old talent.”
Mallorca had produced a resilient defensive display and came close to shocking Madrid with two tries.
Vinicius Junior also came close to scoring after returning to action after being out due to injury, but Mallorca keeper Predrag Rajkovic made a brilliant save to stop the Brazilian player from scoring in the first half.
“It’s always a difficult game when you come back from the holidays,” Carvajal told Real Madrid TV. “Mallorca played a very good game tactically, very aggressive in defence. Set pieces gave us the win.
“We end the first half of the season as potential leaders, 48 points is a lot. In the second half we will try to overtake them.”
Madrid will face fifth-tier Arandina in the first round of the Spanish Cup before taking on Atlético Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.
