Abdón Prats’ brace and Salva Sevilla’s composed finish saw us record our fourth consecutive victory with a 3-1 win over CD Castellón as our unbeaten run rolls onto 16 games.
Luis García Plaza made seven changes to a much-rotated starting XI following our 1-0 win at Almería. Franco Russo and Fran Gámez replaced Antonio Raíllo and Joan Sastre in defence, Aleix Febas and Salva were introduced in midfield at the expense of Iddrisu Baba and Brian Oliván, while an offensive trident featuring the in-form Abdón Prats, Murilo and Jordi Mboula was preferred to Antonio Sánchez, Amath and Dani Rodríguez. Loanees Josep Señe and Igor Zlatanovic were not eligible on behalf of the visitors.
We started the stronger side and should have been ahead with six minutes on the clock after Abdón slipped Jordi Mboula through on goal, although the forward was denied by the on-rushing Alvaro Campos.
The early warning was not heeded by Los Orelluts as Aleix Febas found Abdón Prats unmarked at the back post. Backtracking to control the ball with his chest, the striker volleyed home his third goal in as many games with an effort which Campos had no chance of stopping from a few yards out in the eighth minute.
Things went from bad to worse for CD Castellón as our dream start continued with a finely-worked attack culminating in Abdón flicking the ball in-behind for Mboula to coolly find Salva Sevilla with a backheel and the goal at his mercy in the 12th minute.
The midfielder could have had a second in the 24th minute when he met Abdòn’s centre with a lunge, although his effort flew over the bar.
CD Castellón grew into the game and came close to pulling one back through Rubén Díez on the stroke of half-time, but we headed into the dressing room with a two-goal advantage and in the driving seat having enjoyed 70% of possession.
In the ascendancy from the restart, Abdón Prat put the game beyond doubt 10 minutes into the second half when an incisive counter-attack ended with the striker applying the finishing touch to Mboula’s teasing centre across the face of goal with an outstretched leg.
Eneko Satrustegui pulled one back for the hosts with little over 15 minutes left on the clock, but it would ultimately prove to be nothing more than a consolation goal as we never looked like surrendering our lead.
Mboula was unlucky not get himself on the scoresheet in the closing stages of the match having created two goals earlier in the evening while substitute Lago Junior was inches away from getting himself on the scoresheet, but the scoreline would stay at 3-1 come the final whistle. With back-to-back midweek fixtures now behind us, we look ahead to our trip to the capital for a clash with promotion rivals CD Leganés in six days’ time.
RCD Mallorca: Manolo Reina, F. Gámez, Russo, Valjent, Cufré, Ruiz De Galarreta (62’), Salva Sevilla (71’), Febas, Mboula (91'), Murilo (62’), Abdón (71’)
Substitutes: Miquel Parera, Leo, A. Raíllo, Sastre, Amath, Dani Rodríguez, Álex Alegría (71’), Antonio Sánchez (91'), B. Oliván, Lago Junior (62’), Sedlar (62’), Luka Romero (71’)
CD Castellón: A. Campos, Guillem Jaime, Arturo, Satrustegui, Cubillas (46’), Rubén D. (46’), César Díaz (46’), Delgado, Víctor (82'), Gus Ledes, M. Mateu (71’)
Substitutes: Óscar, Lapeña, Castells, Ortuño (82'), Fidalgo (46’), Gálvez, Iago (71’), Muguruza, Jordi (46’), Muñoz, Carrillo, Fernandes (46’)
Goals: Abdón, 1-0 (8’); Salva Sevilla, 2-0 (12’); Abdón, 3-0 (55’); Satrustegui, 3-1 (73’)
