Raúl de Tomás’ first-half strike was the difference on a difficult afternoon against RCD Espanyol as our run of consecutive defeats extended to six games after a 1-0 loss.
We almost got off to a dream start as Ángel was hauled down in the box after six minutes, although a VAR-review revealed an earlier foul by Jaume Costa had been committed in the build-up to the penalty shout.
Vedat Muriqi had the game’s first real chance in the 15th minute when he rose highest to connect with Costa’s cross, but the forward was unable to trouble Diego López.
With few chances to separate either side for the remainder of the first half, the hosts took the lead with four minutes left to play when Raúl de Tomás got in behind and beat the on-rushing Sergio Rico.
The striker almost doubled RCD Espanyol’s advantage when he got in behind again in the 54th minute, although Rico was able to produce a smart save.
Second-half substitute goalkeeper Oier Olazábal produced an incredible save to keep the scores level in the 66th minute to deny a Muriqi header from close range.
The forward’s effort would ultimately be our last chance to find an equaliser as we succumbed to defeat in Barcelona.
RCD Mallorca: Sergio Rico; Gio González, Raíllo, Valjent, Costa, Dani Rodríguez, Baba, A. Sánchez, Kang-in Lee, Ángel, Muriqi
Substitutes: Abdón for Ángel Rodríguez (46'); Salva Sevilla and Take for Antonio Sánchez and Kang-In (60'); Javi Llabrés for Baba (82'); Fer Niño for Gio (90')
Goals: Raúl de Tomás, 1-0 (41')
