RCD Mallorca were unable to end an unforgettable year on a high note as we fell to a 2-0 defeat to Sevilla FC ahead of the winter break.
Vicente Moreno fielded an entirely different starting XI from Wednesday’s victory against CD El Alamo, as regulars Martin Valjent, Manolo Reina and Salva Sevilla returned to the side. In defence, Antonio Raillo’s suspension saw Aleksandar Sedlar handed his first-team debut.
A matter of inches prevented us from a dream start as Lago Junior fired Take Kubo’s drive across the six-yard box over the bar less than three minutes into proceedings.
Despite the visitors making their aerial threat apparent with a handful of half-chances during the opening exchanges, we didn’t heed earlier warnings as Diego Carlos headed home an Ever Banega corner.
The setback certainly didn’t take the vigour out of our high press as Salva Sevilla robbed possession on the edge of the box to tee up Ante Budimir for a low effort just wide of the mark.
The striker wasn’t to miss at the second time of asking, getting ahead of his man to poke home Lumor’s whipped cross, but following a lengthy VAR consultation, the goal was ruled out for offside as we headed into the break a goal down.
A lengthy VAR revision would haunt us once again on the hour mark, adjudging Iddrisu Baba to have fouled Joan Jordan as play then continued. In the face of a prolonged delay to the penalty, Banega held his nerve and added a second.
The introduction of ‘Cucho’ Hernández and Pablo Chavarría saw us switch to a more offensive 4-4-2 system, heralding space for Lago Junior to test Tomáš Vaclík before Fran Gámez fired over a low cross.
The defender would come closest to pulling one back with a strike just missing the far post, but despite our best efforts, we head into the winter break on the back of a tough defeat.
RCD Mallorca: Reina, Fran Gámez, Sedlar, Valjent, Lumor, Baba (78’), Salva Sevilla (57’), Lago Junior, Dani Rodríguez, Kubo, Budimir (69’)
Substitutes: Ariday, Xisco Campos, Pablo Chavarría (69’), Cucho (57’), Fabricio, Febas (78’), Señé
Sevilla FC: Vaclik, Jesús Navas, Carriço, Diego Carlos, Reguilón, Fernando, Banega, Joan Jordán (72’), Munir, Ocampos (89’), De Jong (66’)
Substitutes: Bono, Bryan Gil, Gudelj (89’), Koundé (66’), Rony Lopes, Óliver Torres, Franco Vázquez (72’)
Goals: Diego Carlos, 0-1 (20’), Ever Banega, 0-2 (62’)
