Not So Immediate Reaction: Real Madrid 6-1 Mallorca

Real Madrid 6-1 Mallorca (Benzema x2, Asensio x3 & Isco). Here is the reaction to the huge win! Be sure to check out: press conference highlights, the player ratings and the post game podcast.

The ‘immediate reaction’ may have taken a slight hit for time, but after watching the game out of office, and thoroughly enjoying the goal fest - perhaps it was the best game for it. The good news began when news broke out that Eduardo Camavinga had finally earnt his first start for the club. Castilla player Miguel Gutiérrez joined him at left-back, but more controversially: Marco Asensio found a place in the team. This came just a day after some dubious comments in the media directed at Carlo Ancelotti and his playing time at the club recently. On the bench Sergio Santos was included for a potential debut. Karim Benzema once again captained the side. Madrid loanee Takefusa Kubo started for the visitors.

It has been Real Madrid’s week so far. Really, it has been their season. And today, it was clear they were there to put on a show yet again after three minutes, when Karim Benzema latched onto a loose touch from a defender and fired low to put Los Blancos ahead. Marco Asensio really had a point to prove, and he began to repay Ancelotti for the response to his earlier comments with not one, but two first half goals. The first came from his quick reactions after a parry from the goalkeeper, and the second showed far more composure as he made an excellent run between two defenders and finished around the keeper after receiving the ball. Mallorca did bite back in the middle of this run however, as Lee Kang-In went on a run of his own and slotted the ball past Thibaut Courtois. The half finished 3-1 to Madrid, but the goal scoring was far from done.

The action restarted immediately in the second half after Benzema had a goal disallowed for a foul. That didn’t matter much, as Asensio managed to complete his hat-trick before the hour mark. This one being the best yet as he picked his spot from outside of the box. Antonio Blanco, Isco, Lucas Vázquez and Luka Jović were all brought on - as well as Sergio Santos who made his first team debut at the Bernabéu. It was one of the remaining players that bagged the next goal though, as none other than Benzema managed to find space using his back to control the ball and slip it past the keeper (with the help of a defensive touch to help it on it’s way in). The final goal was scored by substitute Isco, who tapped home a pass by Vinícius Júnior inside the area. 6-1 the final score, with an empathic win keeping Real Madrid at the top of the table. What did you think about the game? Be sure to check out three answers and three questions from the win here.