RCD Mallorca suffered an unfortunate 3-0 defeat to Real Sociedad as a second-half to forget proved to be the difference in San Sebastián.
Following our midweek Copa del Rey exit at the hands of Real Zaragoza, Vicente Morneo reverted back to a more familiar starting XI. Aleix Febas was the only player to retain his place among the 10 changes made to the side as regulars Manolo Reina, Ante Budimir and Lago Junior were recalled.
The first effort on target during the opening exchanges almost caught Remiro off guard as Lumor’s thumping drive from range was palmed into the path of Budimir, but the striker was unable to direct a difficult header on the follow up.
Reina was then called into action at the other end, doing well to get his body in the way to block Portu’s close-range touch on a low cross, before we then launched a swift counter-attack in the same move which ended with the trigger-happy Lumor firing wide on his weaker right foot.
Chances remained few and far between as time ebbed slowly towards the interval, although Reina wouldn’t end the half without having to produce a fine reflex save to deny to Alexander Isak after the striker had capitalised on a mistimed header.
The hard work of a positive first period was quickly undone and within 50 seconds after the restart, Isak wouldn’t miss at the second time of asking as the hosts came flying out the blocks following the break.
Things went from bad to worse minutes prior to the hour mark as Fran Gamez was unfortunate to wrong foot Reina by deflecting substitute Ander Barrenetxea’s effort from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.
Portu added a third when he followed up on a loose ball in the box with 10 minutes remaining, and while substitute Abdón and Dani Rodríguez came close to pulling a goal back, we were unable to get back into the game.
RCD Mallorca: Reina, Lumor Agbenyenu, Valjent, Raíllo, Gámez, Febas (59’), Baba, Lago Junior (71’), Dani Rodríguez, Cucho Hernández, Budimir (83’)
Substitutes: Fabricio, Sastre, Xisco Campos, Pedraza, Pozo (59’), Abdón (83’), Kubo (71’)
Real Sociedad: Remiro, Le Normand, Llorente, Aldúa, Aihen Muñoz, Zubeldia, Oyarzabal (57’), Ødegaard, Portu, Merino (77’), Alexander Isak (80’)
Substitutes: Zubiaurre, Januzaj (80’), Guevara (77’), Gorosabel, Barrenetxea (57’), Sangalli, Lobete
Goals: Alexander Isak, 1-0 (46’); Fran Gamez (OG), 2-0 (58’); Portu, 3-0 (81’)
