Real Madrid pulled off yet another classic comeback at the Santiago Bernabéu, defeating Mallorca 2-1 on Wednesday night thanks to a last-gasp volley from 20-year-old centre-back Jacobo Ramón. The dramatic La Liga win delayed Barcelona’s inevitable title celebration, injecting fresh but fleeting hope into Madrid’s fading championship chase.
With just two games left and trailing Barcelona by four points, Real Madrid knew they had little margin for error. Yet in a stadium missing about 30,000 fans and with half the squad sidelined, few expected the night to end in fireworks. And yet, in true Madrid fashion, they found a way—this time through a forgotten defender and a 95th-minute explosion.
Real Madrid comeback stuns Mallorca
The game didn’t start well for the hosts. Mallorca took the lead in the 11th minute when Martin Valjent smashed home from a Mateu Morey cross after Dani Ceballos failed to cut out the pass. With Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham on the pitch, expectations were high, but Real Madrid’s early response was timid.
Goalkeeper Leo Román was a wall for Mallorca, denying efforts from Luka Modric, Mbappé, and Valverde in the first half. Despite having 73% possession and unleashing 39 shots by the end of the match, Madrid just couldn’t find a way through until late in the second half.
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Mbappé levels with class
In the 68th minute, Mbappé showed his world-class quality, breaking free from Valjent and Morey to fire a near-post rocket past Román for his 28th league goal of the season. The Bernabéu came alive with hope as the Frenchman celebrated with his teammates—and notably with Jacobo Ramón, who would go on to become the unlikely hero.
With the score at 1-1, Real Madrid kept pushing. Gonzalo García missed a golden chance, Román made more saves, and Mallorca cleared a shot off the line. Still, it seemed like time was running out.
Then, with the clock ticking into the 95th minute, Jesús Vallejo—usually forgotten and rarely used—sent in a desperate ball into the box. Jacobo Ramón met it with perfect timing, smashing home the volley to seal the win. Cue chaos at the Bernabéu.
Who is Jacobo Ramón?
The 20-year-old defender had barely featured for Real Madrid this season. Yet in one moment, he etched his name into the club’s folklore. His goal didn’t just win the match—it gave the fans one last memory in what has been a season of transition and frustration.
Carlo Ancelotti, managing his second-last home game before leaving to take over Brazil, had spoken the day before about Madrid’s legendary comebacks. Ramón’s winner gave him one more to cherish.
Carlo Ancelotti era nears end
The club is set to officially confirm what most already know: Carlo Ancelotti will leave to coach the Brazilian national team, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso is lined up to replace him.
It was a strange matchday atmosphere—low attendance, players pulling out with injuries, and little belief in a title turnaround. Still, Madrid delivered a defiant performance for the ages.
Notable absentees included Vinícius Júnior and Lucas Vázquez, who were both injured during the El Clásico loss to Barcelona. Rodrygo skipped training, and Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Antonio Rüdiger were also unavailable due to injuries or suspension.
Real Madrid’s resilience on display
Despite the depleted squad and gloomy outlook, the win over Mallorca shows the resilience Real Madrid is known for. The result may not change the final outcome of the title race, but it proved that Madrid never gives up—even when the odds are stacked.
Mallorca deserve credit for their effort, especially goalkeeper Leo Román, who made over 10 saves and kept them in the game until the final minute. But in the end, it was Real Madrid’s persistence and belief that made the difference.
Next step: Waiting on Barcelona
Barcelona remain four points ahead of Madrid with a game in hand. If they beat Espanyol on Thursday night, the title race will officially be over. If not, Madrid will cling to the slimmest of chances heading into the final two matchdays.
For now, this thrilling 2-1 win gives fans a reason to smile—and keeps the flicker of hope alive. And in a season where so much has gone wrong, sometimes, one magical night is enough.
Key Stats
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Possession: Real Madrid 73% – Mallorca 27%
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Shots: Real Madrid 39 – Mallorca 6
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On Target: Real Madrid 12 – Mallorca 2
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Corners: Real Madrid 26 – Mallorca 0
Scorers:
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Real Madrid: Mbappé (68’), Jacobo Ramón (90+5’)
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Mallorca: Valjent (11’)
Real Madrid Line-up Highlights:
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Thibaut Courtois, Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric, Mbappé, Arda Guler
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Sub: Jesús Vallejo (assist for winner), Gonzalo García
Mallorca Line-up Highlights:
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Leo Román (GK), Valjent (goal), Vedat Muriqi, Sergi Darder
This match will go down not because it changed the title race, but because it reminded the world what Real Madrid stands for: drama, fight, and belief until the final whistle.
