Three questions and three answers from Mallorca 0-1 Real Madrid

Real Madrid fought to secure a 1-0 win over Mallorca at Son Moix on Saturday evening as Carlo Ancelotti faced a challenging away trip in between the two legs of a Champions League quarter-final. Aurelién Tchouameni scored the only goal of the game with a rocket from outside the box which left Mallorca with no chance.

Three answers

1. Would Carlo Ancelotti rotate?

Following a nine-day break before the clash with Manchester City in the Champions League, the team had looked rusty in the quarter-final first leg, which gave Carlo Ancelotti plenty to think about when considering how he should line up his team in Mallorca knowing that the second leg is only five days away. In the end, the Italian rested only a handful of players, with Rodrygo Goes not risked after a knock this week and Toni Kroos, Dani Carvajal, Eduardo Camavinga and Vinícius Júnior all given a break. In their places came Lucas Vázquez, Nacho, Luka Modrić, Brahim Díaz and Joselu. In the end, three of the five who were missing would come on as substitutes, as Ancelotti again appeared unconvinced by the second string.

2. How much would we see of Éder Militão?

One of the selections which was most closely anticipated was whether or not Ancelotti would give Éder Militão his first start since August. With Aurelién Tchouameni suspended for the second leg against City, one of the expectations was that this game could be a dress rehearsal to test the fitness of the Brazilian, or give Nacho some minutes to get sharp for a challenging test in midweek. The coach opted to start his captain, only making a change to introduce Militão in injury time. Was Ancelotti keeping him fresh ahead of planning to start him in midweek? Or was this a show of confidence in Nacho before his big chance against City? This one perhaps raises more questions than answers.

3. Could Real Madrid end their poor run away at Mallorca?

Visits to Mallorca have not ended well for Real Madrid in recent years, with a 1-0 defeat in 2019 and 2023 coming either side of a 3-0 win, their only victory at Son Moix since 2012. Javier Aguirre’s team were coming into this game with a point to prove after a painful Copa del Rey final defeat on penalties in their last fixture, and they looked motivated and up for the occasion as they always are whenever Real Madrid rock up in town. This time, the 1-0 scoreline went in Real Madrid’s favour, securing a league double over the side from the Balearics for only the second time in a decade. The win means Real Madrid remain eight points clear of Barcelona at the top of LALIGA with seven games to go, but also sets the team up positively for a big week with a visit to Manchester followed by next weekend’s Clásico.

Three questions

1. When will Jude Bellingham score again?

For a fifth consecutive game, Jude Bellingham was not on the scoresheet. He was only inches away when he smacked a powerful effort against the crossbar from the edge of the box, but the England international’s “goal drought” continued. Failure to score against Manchester City on Wednesday would make this run his longest without a goal, surpassing the five games he went without scoring between December and January. Bellingham recorded two shots from similar positions in Mallorca, both going close, but it’s clear that he is playing in a deeper role with defenders picking up and tracking his late runs into the box much more closely than they were earlier in the season.

2. Where is Aurelién Tchouameni best used?

It’s no easy task to play two games at such a high level in the same week, and even more difficult when it’s in different positions. In midweek, Tchouameni deservedly took much of the credit for silencing Erling Haaland and on Saturday he bossed the midfield against Mallorca with a match-winning display. He won eight of 10 duels, created two chances, and scored the winning goal with an inspired moment of magic to produce a magnificent finish. While the game may not have been the most memorable, this will likely go down as one of his best displays in a Real Madrid shirt. It could also help Nacho and Éder Militão to justify a starting spot, simply with the argument that Tchouameni’s contribution in midfield is too good to sacrifice him by moving him into defence.

3. Why don’t Real Madrid play to Joselu’s strengths?

With only one goal in his last 10 Real Madrid appearances, it’s only fair that questions are asked about how Los Blancos are using Joselu. For the second time in a row when starting a game, something he has only done twice since February 1st, he recorded the fewest touches of any starting outfield player despite playing the full 90 minutes, with 25 against Rayo Vallecano and 29 against Mallorca. Joselu is clearly strongest in the air and when crosses are being put into the box, but on this occasion, playing without much width with Fede Valverde and Brahim Díaz as the wide midfielders, Real Madrid failed to complete a single cross for the first time this season. Joselu is clearly only a rotation option and a back-up for this team, but he can hardly be blamed for a lack of success if his team-mates do not provide him with the service he needs to make an impact.