We were unable to get our Segunda División campaign off to a winning start as we suffered a 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano at the Visit Mallorca Estadi courtesy of Isi's second-half strike.
Luis García Plaza made two changes to the side which overcame CD Lugo 1-0 in our final pre-season test for his competitive managerial debut as RCD Mallorca manager. The Spaniard opted for the returning Martin Valjent from international duty in place of Franco Russo while Alex Alegría was preferred to Abdón in the central striker role. Iván Bravo was handed his senior debut at left back as new singing Brian Oliván was named among the substitutes alongside Salva Sevilla, Ante Budmir and Luka Romero.
A cagey opening to our campaign curtain raiser meant we had to wait until the 16th minute until we had our first chance to work Miguel Morro with Dani Rodríguez unleashing a fierce volley from inside the box to force a good save from the visiting goalkeeper.
Alvaro García found time to fire at goal in a similar manner from 25-yards out, although his speculative volley was never in danger of troubling Manolo Reina as it flew over the bar.
Having scored a wondergoal from a similar position against CD Castellón in an earlier pre-season fixture, Joan Sastre tried his luck once again from distance although his effort didn’t trouble Morro who made a straight forward save.
We would head into the break with the scores level despite our best efforts to get in behind Rayo Vallecano’s high press as Dani Rodríguez came close to edging us in front with a header that required a reflex save to keep out.
Our slow start following the restart was punished just five minutes into the second half as Isi broke the deadlock when he ghosted into the box to poke home Fran Garcia’s cross at the back post.
Manager García looked for an instant response following the setback and decided to change our offensive dynamic with the introductions of Ante Budimir, Luka Romero and Salva Sevilla in the 56th minute.
Isi thought he had registered his second when he cut inside and released a low effort towards the near post, although Reina was in fine form to tip wide. The goalkeeper was called into action again 10 minutes later, this timing reacting well to palm away Fran García’s fierce shot from the edge of the area.
With little over 20 minutes remaining, Budimir managed to shake his marker and take aim at goal, but a recovery block steered the forward’s low drive wide of the far post for a corner.
Fans watching streams across our social media platforms and the RCD Mallorca + app got to see new signing Oliván in club colours for the first time, replacing the teenage Bravo at left back with five minutes left on the clock.
We threw everything we could at a resolute Rayo Vallecano defence in the six-minutes of injury time given as Salva Sevilla came closest to equalising, but we were ultimately left empty handed as we now turn our attention to the first away game of the season against RCD Espanyol in a week’s time.
RCD Mallorca: Manolo Reina, Joan Sastre, Raíllo, Valjent, Bravo (85’), Baba (80’), Febas (55’), Dani Rodríguez, Lago Júnior, Stoichkov (55’), Alegría (55’)
Substitutes: Miquel Parera, B. Oliván (85’), De Galarreta, Rafel Obrador, Antonio Sánchez, Luka Romero (55’), Salva Sevilla (55’), Abdón, Russo, Fran Gámez, Trajkovski (80’), Budimir (55’)
Rayo Vallecano: Morro, Velázquez (79’), Catena, Santi, Isi (92’), Andrés, Qasmi (66’), Álvaro, Óscar (79’), Mario H, Fran García
Substitutes: Dimitrievski, M. Suárez (79’), Trejo (66’), Lass, Montiel (92’), Ba, Pozo, Saveljilch (79’), Benito, Martín, Moreno, D. Moreno
Goles: Isi, 0-1 (50’)
