REAL MADRID secured a third consecutive La Liga victory with a 2-1 comeback win against Real Mallorca on Saturday.
Vedat Muriqi gave the visitors a surprise lead at the Santiago Bernabeu before Arda Guler and Vinicius Junior struck twice in two minutes.
Xabi Alonso’s side also had three goals disallowed as they continued their perfect start to the campaign.
The victory represents an impressive feat for Alonso given the team’s limited pre-season after competing in the Club World Cup.
Alonso reinstated Vinicius Junior and Trent Alexander-Arnold to the starting line-up after both began on the bench last weekend.
Kylian Mbappe thought he had opened the scoring early from an Alexander-Arnold pass but was ruled offside.
Mallorca took an 18th-minute lead when Muriqi used his shoulder to divert a corner past Thibaut Courtois.
That marked the first goal Madrid had conceded in La Liga this season after two opening clean sheets.
The hosts responded with two rapid goals before half-time.
Dean Huijsen headed Alvaro Carreras’ cross into the six-yard box for Guler to nod home in the 37th minute.
Vinicius then surged into space and scuffed a finish into the bottom corner to complete the turnaround.
Mbappe missed a close-range chance before having another goal disallowed for offside.
Summer signing Franco Mastantuono fired narrowly over on his first Bernabeu start at just 18 years old.
The Argentine was involved in Madrid’s third disallowed goal after some superb footwork before Guler eventually turned home.
The Turkish playmaker was judged to have handled the ball before striking.
Carreras produced a spectacular goal-line clearance to deny Samu Costa as Mallorca pushed for an equaliser.
Madrid showed good control in the final stages to secure the victory under Alonso’s guidance.
Barcelona visit Rayo Vallecano on Sunday looking to match Madrid’s perfect start.
Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao could also maintain 100% records with victories against Celta Vigo and Real Betis respectively. – AFP
