We took a huge step towards safety as goals from Cucho Hernández and Take Kubo secured a vital three points in our fight for survival with a 2-0 victory over Levante U.D at Visit Mallorca Estadi.
Vicente Moreno made three changes to the side which lost 3-0 at Atlético de Madrid on Matchday 34 six days prior. Martin Valjent and Ante Budimir returned to the starting XI following their suspensions in place of Aleksandar Sedlar and Aleksandar Trajkovski, while Salva Sevilla was preferred to Aleix Febas in central midfield.
The intention to take an early lead became apparent inside the opening five minutes, with Dani Rodríguez volleying wide of the target from 12 yards before Cucho Hernández headed over the bar.
The former was then inches away from finding the top corner with a fierce drive on the edge of the area which left Aitor Fernández rooted to the spot.
José Campaña and José Luis Morales gave Manolo Reina something to react to on the counter attack, but we continued to press forward as Salva Sevilla had one of the best chances of the game when he dragged an effort wide inside the box just past the half-hour mark.
Playing on the front foot would ultimately reap its reward five minutes before we headed into the changing rooms as Cucho rose highest in the box to head home Alejandra Pozo’s whipped cross.
Upon the restart, we looked to control matters in midfield with some neat interplay and worked transitions, limiting Los Granotas to a wild effort from Roger Marí on the hour mark.
On the ball with confidence following his fourth goal of the season, Cucho’s spectucalive curled effort on the 72nd minute was our first real chance of what became a tightly-contested second half.
With matters sitting on a knife’s edge, Take Kubo killed any hope of a late equaliser for Levante U.D. when he poked home from little distance succeeding a goal-mouth scramble to ensure we closed the difference from safety to just three points on the evening.
As many fixtures now await us as we head towards the campaign's climax, starting with Sevilla FC in just over 72 hours' time.
RCD Mallorca: Reina, Pozo, Valjent, Raíllo, Gámez, Baba, Salva Sevilla, Kubo (86’), Cucho Hernández (73’), Dani Rodríguez, Budimir (90’)
Substitutes: Parera, Sastre, Campos, Señé, Salibur, Lago Junior (86’), Trajkovski, Sedlar, Febas (73’), Chavarría (90’), Luka, Abdón
Levante U.D: Aitor Fernández, Coke, Rober Pier, Vezo, Toño, Radoja (63’), Melero (78’), Campaña, Bardhi, Morales (63’), Roger (78’)
Substitutes: Koke Vegas, Duarte, Sergio León (78’), Hernani (63’), Postigo, Rochina (78’), Vukcevic, Clerc, Jorge Miramón, Mayoral (63’), Blesa, Giorgi
Goals: Cucho, 1-0 (39’); Take, 2-0 (84’)
