Goals from Alex Alegría and Joan Sastre saw us overcome CD Castellón as we ended our pre-season training camp in Murcia in style.
Luis García Plaza made five changes to his starting XI following our 2-0 victory over CD Tenerife three days prior. Manolo Reina replaced Miquel Parera in goal, while Franc Russo was preferred to Aleksandar Sedlar at centre back. Salva Sevilla and Stoichkov stepped into Aleix Febas and Luka Romero’s midfield roles as Alegría was handed the central striker role with Abdón Prats among the substitutes. On the opposing side was loanee Josep Sene in central midfield.
Both sides struggled to find their rhythm in the opening exchanges at the Pinatar Arena, although it was the Valencian side who had the game’s first opportunity when Adrian Lapeña found himself unmarked at a corner and headed wide of the post.
In similar fashion on the 23rd minute, Alegría picked up where he left off from a productive spell in front of goal on loan at UD Extremadura last year when he ghosted into the box and guided Sevilla’s cross into the bottom corner.
Chances were few and far between as play remained constrained to turnovers in midfield and it wasn’t until the 37th minute the opposing David Cubillas flicked a headed effort over the bar by distance.
Our second goal of the game came from an unlikely source in spectacular fashion as Joan Sastre gave Alvaro Campos no chance with a thunderous strike into the top corner from 25-yards on the stroke of half-time.
A subdued second half followed the same script of the opening 45 minutes with both sides unable to create space for clear shooting opportunities, however young shot stopper Leo Román was handed his first appearance in goal upon the restart.
The introduction of Aleix Febas and Luka Romero by García later saw the CD Castellón defence begin to stretch after a fine intervention courtesy of Russo prevented Cesar Díaz from tapping home in the 55th minute.
Further minutes were shared between the 27-man travelling squad as fans streaming across our social media channels got their first chance to see Antonio Sánchez in club colours for the first time.
With less than four minutes remaining substitute Abdón Prats rattled the crossbar from the edge of the box for the second consecutive game, but the scoreline remained the same as we headed home with two wins and a loss from our three friendly fixtures in Murcia.
RCD Mallorca: Manolo Reina (45’), Joan Sastre (75’), Raíllo (68’), Russo (75’), Bravo (75’), Baba (68’), Sevilla (64’), Dani Rodríguez (75’), Lago Júnior, Stoichkov (56’), Álex Alegría (68’)
Substitutes: Román (45’), Parera, Quintana (75’), Febas (64’), Obrador (75’), Abdón Prats (68’), Salibur, Gámez, Luka Romero (56’), Antonio Sánchez (68’), De Baunbag (75’), Sedlar (68’), Redondo (75’), Íñigo Ruíz de Galarreta
CD Castellón: Álvaro Campos, Lapeña, Cubillas, Díez, García, Delgado, Señé, Fernández, Sánchez, Mateu, Indias
Substitutes: Felipe, Juanan, Regalón, Castells, Salvador, Díaz, Alfredo, Gálvez, Juanto, Muguruza, Carrillo, Jaime, Aarón, Gus Ledes, Fidalgo
Goals: Álex Alegría, 1-0 (23’); Joan Sastre, 2-0 (45+2’)
