We were unable to turn chances into goals and gain valuable points in our relegation battle as we slipped to a frustrating 1-0 defeat at CF Villarreal.
Vicente Moreno made five changes to the side which lost 4-0 to FC Barcelona less than 72 hours ago, swapping Joan Sastre, Salva Sevilla, Marc Pedraza, Ante Budimir, Dani Rodríguez for Aleksandar Sedlar, Fran Gámez, Lago Junior, Aleix Febas and Iddrisu Baba. Among a bench featuring the likes of Ante Budimir, Salva Sevilla and Xisco Campos was a debut call-up to the senior squad for 15-year-old Luka Romero.
Our first chance of the game fell to one of the unlikeliest recipients, as an advancing Baba rattled the crossbar from range inside the eighth minute after a well-worked passage on the edge of the box.
Despite the promising start, the hosts took the lead in the 16th minute when Sam Chuckweeze raced down the flank to tee up Carlos Bacca for a simple finish at the far post unmarked.
A deflected effort on Cucho’s behalf and Take Kubo’s whipped free-kick comfortably saved by Sergio Asenjo was the closest we would come before the break to levelling, with neither side able to create many noteworthy chances following the game’s opener.
Although looking brighter upon the restart with some neat interplay, Manu Trigueros tested Manolo Reina eight minutes into the second half from close range but was denied by a fine reflex stop.
Those watching from home thought we had equalised in the 73rd minute when substitute Aleksandar Trajkovski wriggled past his marker and chipped a ball to the back post for an unmarked Cucho to volley inches wide.
Pushing for a late equaliser with few minutes left on the clock, the newly introduced Ante Budimir tested Asenjo from distance, before Baba crashed a 25-yard strike against the woodwork for a second time on the evening.
Deep into injury time, Pablo Chavarría had a flicked header cleared off the line following a goalmouth scramble which involved Budimir also forcing Asenjo into a finger-tip save.
The referee's final whistle would eventually go without any reward for our effort, and Moreno’s side will now have to turn their attention to a Friday evening hosting of Leganes where a win could potentially pull us out of the bottom three.
RCD Mallorca: Reina; Gámez, Valjent (67’), Raíllo, Sedlar,Pozo (85’), Baba, Febas (67’), Lago Junior (85’), Cucho Hernández, Kubo (59’)
Substitutes: Parera, Sastre (85’), Señé, Xisco Campos, Pedraza, Salva Sevilla (67’), Abdón, Salibur, Trajkovski (67’), Chavarria (85’), Budimir (59’), Luka
CF Villarreal: Asenjo; Mario Gaspar, Albiol, Pau Torres, Alberto Moreno, Manu Trigueros (85’), Anguissa, Cazorla, Chukwueze, Bacca (59’), Alcácer (70’).
Substitutes: Andrés Fdez, Gerard (59’), Manuel Morlanes (70’), Quintillà, R. Peña (85’), Sofian Chakla, Moi Gómez (70’), J. Ontiveros, Sergio Lozano, Álex Baena, Fernando Niño, Miguel Angel Leal
Goals: Carlos Bacca, 1-0 (16’)
