Mallorca vs. Real Madrid result: Karim Benzema, Vinicius combo extends La Liga lead to 10 points

Kyle Bonn

Mallorca vs. Real Madrid result: Karim Benzema, Vinicius combo extends La Liga lead to 10 points image

Real Madrid survived 45 minutes of a physical slugfest to outlast Mallorca on the road, with two goals and an assist from talisman Karim Benzema to win its 20th match of the season and go 10 points clear at the top of the Spanish La Liga table.

Vinicius Junior was also a key contributor, scoring the opening goal and winning the penalty that Benzema eventually deposited for a 2-0 lead.

Despite the three points that pushed the club closer to the La Liga title, it wasn’t all sunshine and roses for Los Blancos, who will be sweating a few key injuries ahead of next weekend’s El Clasico. Most notably, Benzema came limping off a few minutes after his second goal, leaving Carlo Ancelotti with a headache ahead of the season’s marquee matchup.

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Rodrygo also came off injured, with a more serious looking issue, needing to be carried off the field and down the tunnel after a bad foul by Mallorca defender Antonio Raillo. Ferland Mendy was also withdrawn in the second half with what appeared to be an injury.

Still, Madrid will cherish the result that sees them put one hand on the league trophy. A 10 point lead with 10 matches to go seems nearly insurmountable, and the rest of the league will be picking at scraps the rest of the way.

Mallorca vs. Real Madrid final score

  1H 2H Final
Mallorca 0 0 0
Real Madrid 0 3 3

Goals:
55th min — RMA — Vinicius Jr.
77th min — RMA — Benzema (pen)
82nd min — RMA — Benzema

(All times Eastern)

Final: Mallorca 0, Real Madrid 3

It was a bruising, physical test for the La Liga leaders, but ultimately they passed the test. Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr. were the stars, and Real Madrid now has one hand on the La Liga trophy with a 10-point lead and only 10 matches remaining.

While the three points are valuable, the injuries are worrying with El Clasico less than a week away. Benzema's status will be the most watched of those who were forced off early.

94th min: CHANCE, Mallorca! The hosts aren't going down without a fight. Muriqi, who has come close on a few occasions, nearly got his head to a cross by Lee, but it just evades his head and hits his arm instead.

90th min: Mallorca is pushing to secure a consolation goal, and it nearly comes off before substitute Lee slips in the penalty area under pressure from Marcelo. A necessary challenge by the aging fullback.

84th min: Well, this is a problem for Madrid. Benzema, with his two goals and assist today, is limping around very obviously. He pointed to his ankle and gestured to the bench, and finally has a seat on the turf. Madrid has used all its substitutions, so the visitors will have to play with 10 men the rest of the way.

More problematic, El Clasico is in six days, and this will give Ancelotti a headache over the coming week. It's hard to conclude if the injury occurred on the goal or not.

82nd min: GOAL, Real Madrid! Marcelo's on for two minutes and he as an assist. Two veterans combine, as the 33-year-old Brazilian delivers a pinpoint cross to the head of the 34-year-old Benzema who rises high to power home the header. Mallorca has sunk since the opener, and this one is well and truly over. That's 22 goals this season for Benzema to go along with his 11 assists, more goal contributions than any other player in the top European leagues this season.

80th min: Ferland Mendy is down with a problem, and while it doesn't look serious, Marcelo is brought on to replace the fullback and not risk anything further.

76th min: PENALTY, Real Madrid! The visitors break effortlessly 3-on-2, and Vinicius is clearly shoved in the back in the box by Olivan. It's the easiest call the referee will ever have to make, a "playground shove" as the ESPN commentators put it, arms extended for all to see. It's senseless foul, because Vinicius didn't look like he was getting to Benzema's cut-back pass.

Benzema steps up...GOAL, Real Madrid! The Frenchman slots it home, sending Rico the wrong way, and Madrid is surely through with all three points.

The goal leads to two more substitutions for Mallorca, as Kubo comes off for Kang-In Lee, while Amath Ndiaye enters to replace Daniel Rodriguez.

69th min: Awkward moment for Real Madrid as David Alaba misjudged a deep cross into the box by Kubo, but his whiff also wrong-foots Muriqi and the chance goes begging.

Yellow card to Raillo for a 50/50 challenge that he overran a bit and got his studs to the ankle of Rodrygo. The Madrid winger is in a good deal of pain and is helped to the sideline, unable to put any weight on his right foot. Worrying for Madrid. Asensio comes on to a rousing applause from the fans of his boyhood club. Rodrygo is full-on carried in a seated position down the tunnel by two of the Madrid medical staff.

67th min: With Mallorca now trailing, the first substitutions of the match for the hosts come on. Abdon Prats is on for Angel Rodriguez for now his 14th substitute appearance of the season, while Salva Sevilla comes into the Mallorca midfield for Antonio Sanchez.

60th min: It's Modric and Camavinga on for Real Madrid, replacing Casemiro and Valverde.

59th min: Casemiro handball gives Mallorca a very dangerous free-kick just outside the penalty area, but Dani Rodriguez puts the delivery miles over.

Luka Modric looks ready to come on from the Real Madrid bench, you'd think for Valverde who's on a yellow card and has come close to earning more.

55th min: GOAL! Real Madrid! Vinicius Jr. has been the best Madrid player in the match, and he's the one on the scoresheet. Vazquez picks Baba's pocket, and Vinicius deposits it into the back of the net on a feed from Benzema. It's a similar opener to what happened against PSG, where Madrid charged down the opposition on lazy possession.

Mallorca was screaming for a foul on the change of possession, but a quick VAR check waves off the protests. Vazquez and Baba both fell clumsily to ground, but the slow-motion shows that Vazquez actually trips over Baba's leg, not the other way around. Good goal, and Madrid has the breakthrough.

54th min: Vazquez now fouls Baba out of frustration after being dispossessed, which is notable after the incident two minutes earlier. No second yellow this time, but he will have to be careful. Carlo Ancelotti is cautioned for saying something on the touchline.

52nd min: Lucas Vazquez manhandles Kubo and earns a deserved yellow. Fourth caution of the match from the referee, including three for Madrid.

50th min: Slow start to the second half, and Maffeo appears to have a last warning from the referee as he fouls Vinicius yet again. A subsequent Madrid attack forces an intervention from Mallorca captain Antonio Raillo who's had an excellent match.

46th min: Back underway for the second half. No changes on either side, but Madrid certainly has a wealth of difference-makers on its bench to dip into should this continue.

Halftime: Mallorca 0, Real Madrid 0

A true slobbernocker through the first 45 minutes, Mallorca did its best to muck up the game, and was quite successful in doing so. Vinicius Jr. in particular was frustrated through the first half, unsuccessful on any of his first five dribble attempts, but he grew into the game towards the halftime whistle.

Both teams tackled well, and interventions at both ends by Pablo Maffeo and Nacho Fernandez were critical. All things considered, Mallorca had the best chances and should be in front. We'll see if Madrid takes advantage of the hosts' failure to secure chances.

Madrid not the only league leaders to be held through 45 minutes, however...

43rd min: CHANCE, Madrid! Absolutely brilliant buildup from Madrid and Benzema who delivers a sexy backheel to spring Vinicius, but his shot is blocked at the last second by a sliding Maffeo. The best opportunity for the visitors so far, or "art" as some are saying.

Moments later another great chance as Vini tees up Alaba with a backheel of his own, but again the shot is blocked. Vinicius becoming more and more influential after a struggle through the first half-hour. Baba is down after colliding into Vinicius at the end of the latter's run, but he's up and back in play.

35th min: CHANCE, Mallorca! Look out, Madrid! Ball over the top is fantastic to bypass the Madrid defense, and only a brilliant ninja tackle from Nacho kept the hosts from opening the scoring. The rebound fell to Maffeo who should have scored, but he scuffs the shot and puts it wide. Madrid should be trailing. Another big missed opportunity.

Moments later, Vinicius goes down under another foul, and the Madrid winger is frustrated with what appears to be a tactical attempt by Mallorca to frustrate him with consistent fouling.

30th min: It's all bubbling up to the surface now as the fouling has frustrated both sides. Maffeo puts in a very high two-footed tackle on Vinicius Jr, and there's a ton of pushing and shoving. Offsetting yellow cards for Vinicius and Angel Rodriguez for naughty actions in the aftermath.

28th min: The tackling has been the best part of this match. Pablo Maffeo with a spectacular sliding tackle to dispossess Vinicius Jr, while Kroos puts one in to win the ball back. The shooting, however...Courtois saves easily from a weak, low effort by Baba, while Kroos tries another deep effort but slips while doing so.

25th min: Ferland Mendy, who has been Madrid's most dangerous attacking player to this point, continues to do grunt work down the left. He wins a throw deep in Mallorca territory, but it's given away by Kroos. Hosts continue to frustrate Madrid with fouls and pressing.

20th min: Madrid looks far more comfortable running at the Mallorca defense than trying to break the hosts down in the half court. A frustrating first 20 minutes for the league leaders, who have just two total shots.

16th min: This game has seemed a bit sleepy outside of the chances. Toni Kroos gets fed up and has a go from well outside the 18-yard box, but it's blocked.

Down the other end Kubo, who's been the best Mallorca player going forward, is fouled hard by Federico Valverde. The Real Madrid midfielder gets the ball, but his follow-through catches Kubo right in the ribs. It's an early yellow card from referee Jose Sanchez and a dangerous free kick for Mallorca. The free kick is wasted, something out of the training ground to Kubo centrally who mishits it weak and wide.

11th min: CHANCE, Mallorca! Well, Muriqi certainly isn't going to get many chances like that! On the break, a cross by Brian Olivan from deep on the left flank falls to a wide-open Muriqi in the six-yard box but he sticks his leg out and gets the contact wrong, putting it wide. A missed opportunity for the hosts and the scoreline remains level.

10th min: Madrid pushes forward again and Mendy could have attempted another effort on net, but instead he lays it off centrally and Kroos looks for an audacious flick to spring a teammate, but it's cut out. Madrid getting very creative but Mallorca is seriously bunkered.

6th min: CHANCE, Real Madrid! Madrid counters and Benzema has an effort on net from a tight angle, but it's saved very well by goalkeeper Sergio Rico. On the ensuing corner, Ferland Mendy ripped a shot on frame, but it's wide. The first real double chance for either side goes begging.

5th min: Real Madrid is holding most of the early possession, but the Mallorca press is high and causing Madrid problems. It earns Mallorca a throw deep in the Madrid area, but the long throw is cleared.

2nd min: Takefusa Kubo, on loan from Real Madrid at Mallorca, fouls Benzema. Could he put pressure on his parent club and make a difference?

1st min: We have kicked off on the island of Mallorca! 

3:38 p.m.: 🤔

3:01 p.m.: Mallorca lineup is in, with mostly an expected output, although tactically it appears that a 4-4-2 will be deployed. Bryan Olivan comes in at left-back for Jaume Costa, and Angel Rodriguez comes in up front alongside Muriqi.

2:02 p.m.: Real Madrid already has its lineup out. Surprisingly, Toni Kroos is not rested for the match with El Clasico coming up next weekend, and he's selected ahead of Eduardo Camavinga. Modric is rested, with Federico Valverde in his place.

2:00 p.m.: The Real Madrid squad looks primed for an explosive match in front of net. We're backing the over! See full betting tips further below.

Mallorca vs. Real Madrid lineups

Manolo Reina is suspended after being red carded in the game against Celta Vigo, and will not be available. Dominic Greif will miss out with illness, while Inigo Ruis's knee injury keeps him out of contention.

Mallorca lined up with a back five last time out, but have played with a four-back in home games, and they continue with that trend for Monday's game.

Mallorca lineup (4-4-2, left to right) Rico (GK) — Olivan, Raillo, Valjent, Maffeo — Sanchez, Ndiaye, Dani Rodriguez, Kubo — Angel, Muriqi.

Mallorca subs (11): Roman (GK), Prats, A. Ndiaye, Fer, Llabres, Sedlar, Grenier, Lee, Sevilla, Russo, Gonzalez, Costa.

An unusual sight in modern football, Real Madrid had all but one of their complete squad available for this game. Eder Militao was a last-minute withdrawal, with reports indicating he has a case of the flu. Outside of the center back, all of Carlo Ancelotti's players took part in training ahead of the game.

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Despite everyone's availability, Carlo Ancelotti has rotated some of the squad. Luka Modric is rested in favor of Federico Valverde for this game, while Dani Carvajal sits, replaced by Lucas VazquezMarco Asensio drops out of the right side attacking role after failing to impress against PSG, replaced by Rodrygo.

Real Madrid lineup (4-3-3, left to right): Courtois (GK) — Mendy, Alaba, Nacho, Vazquez — Kroos, Casemiro, Valverde — Vincius Jr., Benzema, Rodrygo.

Real Madrid subs (11): Lunin (GK), Carvajal, Vallejo, Marcelo, Mariano, Camavinga, Modric, Ceballos, Isco, Hazard, Asensio.

How to watch Mallorca vs. Real Madrid

  • Date: Monday, March 14
  • Time: 4 p.m. ET
  • USA TV channel:
  • USA streaming: ESPN+
  • Canada TV channel: TSN2
  • Canada streaming: TSN.ca, TSN app

USA: Monday's action from Mallorca will be streamed live for U.S. viewers, exclusively on ESPN+.

Canada: The game will be broadcast in Canada on TSN2, and will be available to stream on TSN.ca and the TSN app.

Mallorca-Real Madrid betting lines, picks & prediction

Real Madrid is on an absolute roll, and will be boosted by the PSG win. With El Clasico on the horizon, it's possible that Carlo Ancelotti decides to rotate the squad, but it shouldn't matter too much.

Since its last league loss, Madrid has collected 2.0 xG or better in five of seven matches, scoring at least three goals in three of them. Benzema himself is averaging 1.14 xG over his last five league matches, and we all saw what he's capable of against even a stout PSG defense. Add Vinicius Jr, who is averaging nearly 0.5 xA over that same span, and this attack is bursting at the seams.

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Mallorca is also capable of scoring goals even in defeat, finding the back of the net in four of its last six league games.

Backing both teams to score is a little ambitious, but the over shouldn't be an issue.

Pick: Real Madrid win & over 2.5 goals (+125)

  • Moneyline: Mallorca +500 / Draw +370 / Real Madrid -200
  • Spread: Mallorca +0.5 (+170) / Real Madrid -0.5 (-195)
  • Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Over -135 / Under +110
  • Both Teams to Score: Yes -125 / No +100

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.