We were unfortunate not to complete a two-goal turnaround in a tough 2-1 defeat to Real Betis at Son Moix.
Vicente Moreno made one change to his starting XI following our loss to Levante on matchday 14, as Lumor Agbenyenu was selected in place of Joan Sastre having picked up a slight knock on international duty.
A sluggish start was punished in the seventh minute as the left back’s Ghanian counterpart Iddrisu Baba tripped Nabil Fekir for a penalty which Joaquín duly dispatched.
The setback was a catalyst for an encouraging period, as Take Kubo and then Aleix Febas both managed to work Joel either side of his post.
However, against the run of play, Fekir doubled the visitors’ advantage before half-time when he broke forward and found the bottom corner from outside of the box.
Lago Junior was introduced at the break to add further incisiveness on the left flank and the winger almost had an immediate impact, teeing up Aleix Febas on the edge of the box for a shot just over the bar.
The Ivorian would spark hope of a potential comeback in the 55th minute having made no mistake from the penalty spot after Dani Rodríguez had been fouled by Andrés Guardado.
Fran Gamez ensured we remained in the game with a fighting chance with a heroic goal-line clearance to deny Sergio Canales's follow up on Manolo Reina’s earlier parry to deny Fekir.
Despite the close shave and following a lengthy consultation with VAR, the following counter-attack ended with Antonio Raillo firing at Joel from a few yards out.
Upping the ante in the final third, Dani Rodríguez was next to try his luck as a cutback concluded with the midfielder firing wide by a matter of inches.
Lightning-fast reactions from Joel ultimately prevented Moreno’s side from completing what would have been an inspired come back, as the goalkeeper denied Lago Junior from point-blank range and then Kubo’s deflected effort in the remaining five minutes.
A hard-to-take evening was compounded in injury time as Lumor received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
RCD Mallorca: Reina, Gámez, Valjent, Raíllo, Lumor, Baba (46’), Salva Sevilla, Febas, Kubo, Dani Rodríguez (77’), Budimir (68’)
Substitutes: Fabricio, Xisco Campos, Chavarría (77’), Lago Junior (46’), Abdón (68’), Sastre, Señé
Real Betis: Joel, Emerson, Mandi, Bartra, Feddal, Pedraza, Guardado, Fekir (84’), Canales, Joaquín (79’), Loren (68’)
Substitutes: Dani Martín, Barragán, Édgar, Borja Iglesias (68’), Kaptoum (79’), Lainez (84’), Ismael
Goals: Joaquín 0-1 (7’), Nabil Fekir 0-2 (33’), Lago Junior 1-2 (55’)
