Antonio Sanchez’s first-half strike secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over UD Logroñés as we remain unbeaten away from home this season.
Luis García Plaza made two changes to his side following our 2-0 win over UD Almería a week ago. Braian Cufré replaced the injured Brian Oliván at left back, while Iddrisu Baba made his return to the starting XI at the expense Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta who was unfortunate to pick up a knock during our prior outing.
We slow start was almost punished in the ninth minute when a lengthy VAR review adjudged Roni to have been offside by a matter on inches when he reacted first to a loose ball in the box.
The close shave served to galavanize our attacking trio of Abdón, Amath Ndiaye and Antonio Sánchez as the latter provided an instant response when he capped off a free-flowing team move to poke home Cufré’s pull back 10 minutes later.
UD Logroñés would perhaps finish the half stronger having had Unai Medina force Manolo Reina into a save and saw Gorka Pérez flash a header wide before Salva Sevilla fired over the bar from the edge of the box, although we headed into the break with a slender lead in a tightly-contested fixtures.
Chances were few and far between upon the restart as we struggled to find our rhythm in the final third. Rubén Martínez and Damián Petcoff came closest to testing Reina, although both their efforts were off target.
We would have to wait until the 76th minute before our first sight at goal as Dani Rodríguez struck the cross bar on his weaker foot from distance having been teed up by substitute Álvaro Giménez.
Five minutes added time set up a tense finale as the hosts desperately searched for an equaliser, but we remained resolute to ensure we headed back to Palma with all three points.
RCD Mallorca: Manolo Reina; Fran Gámez, Raíllo, Valjent, Cufré; Baba, Salva Sevilla (84’); Antonio Sánchez, Dani Rodríguez, Amath (78’); y Abdón Prats (70’).
Substitutes: Koke Vegas, Parera, Murilo, Febas (78’), Sastre, Marc Cardona, Sastre,Trajkovski, Mollejo, Russo, Lago Junior, Mboula (84’), Gimenéz (70’)
UD Logroñés: Santamaría; Medina, Álex Pérez, Gorka Pérez (54’), Iago López; Sierra, Petcoff (65’); Rubén Martínez (79’), Andy, Pacheco; y Roni
Substitutes: Ruiz (65’), Bogusz (79’), Iñaki, Olaetxea, Andoni López, A.vitoria, Bobadilla (54’), Siddiki, Nano Mesa (65’), Dani Giménez, Miño
Goals: Antonio Sánchez (19’), 0-1.
