REAL MADRID’S TITLE HOPES SUFFER HUGE BLOW AFTER MALLORCA DEFEAT

Marco Asensio missed a penalty as Real Madrid’s LaLiga title hopes were dealt a huge blow after falling to a shock defeat to Mallorca.

Scorers: Nacho (OG) 13′

Carlo Ancelotti was dealt a blow before kick-off when goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had to be withdrawn from the starting line-up due to injury, to be replaced by Andriy Lunin.

His mood would not have improved after kick-off as the hosts stormed into an early lead when Dani Rodriguez’s cross looped off the head of Real Madrid defender Nacho and into the top corner.

Real struggled to break down a stubborn defensive resolve put up by Javier Aguirre’s side, leading to reckless long-range shots from Rodrygo, Antonio Rüdiger and Ernesto Valverde floating harmlessly wide.

But the visitors were given a route back into the game when they were awarded a penalty early in the second half after Predrag Rajković had brought down Vinícius Juníor.

However, the Serbian shot-stopper redeemed himself by guessing the right away to keep out Asensio’s spot-kick.

Ancelotti turned to the likes of Luka Modrić, Toni Kroos and David Alaba from the bench but Mallorca held firm leaving Real five points behind the league leaders Barcelona, who can extend that gap when they face Sevilla later on Sunday.

The European champions head off to the Club World Cup on the back of a defeat.