Real Madrid 2-0 Mallorca: Higuain Star
GONZALO Higuain scored one and made the other as Real Madrid kept the pressure on Barcelona in the Primera Division title race with victory over fellow high-fliers Real Mallorca at a snow-covered Bernabeu..
In-form striker Higuain netted the opener and then set up the second for Esteban Granero as Madrid made it nine wins from nine at home this season.
It was Madrid’s 13th Primera Division win of the season.
Mallorca came into the match boasting an impressive recent record on the Bernabeu, having won here five times in league and cup in the last decade, while they were also began the weekend in fourth place in La Liga following a superb start to the season.
However, the reason Mallorca are so high is almost exclusively down to their perfect home record as they have won just once away, and Gregorio Manzano’s men were up against it today after falling behind after eight minutes.
Higuain picked the ball up on the right of the area before cutting inside and curling an unstoppable left-footed shot into the far top corner for his 11th league goal in his last 10 matches.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side were unable to build on the early goal in the remainder of the first half despite creating a number of decent openings.
Kaka, making his first appearance since November after recovering from injury, fired over with only Dudu Aouate to beat following a superb one-two with Cristiano Ronaldo, who himself then missed a good chance at the far post.
Ronaldo also blazed a free-kick over from the edge of the box after Kaka had been scythed down.
Mallorca were not without threat either, and Gonzalo Castro headed a good chance wide just a minute after Higuain’s goal.
Mario Suarez also went close just before half-time with a powerful header, but it was straight at Iker Casillas.
Granero made it 2-0 four minutes into the second period.
Higuain created the chance with a good turn and cross to the far post and Granero netted with a left-footed volley from a tight angle.
After that it was all Madrid and the only surprise was that they failed to add to their goal tally after spending almost the entire period camped in their opponents’ half.
In the 15 minutes after Granero’s goal alone Madrid had five decent efforts, with Ronaldo, Kaka, Granero and Higuain (twice) all threatening.
Aouate denied Madrid on three of those occasions, with the pick of the bunch being a remarkable one-handed block to keep out Granero’s piledriver.
Mallorca were finding it hard to cause any problems going forward, although Casillas needed to throw himself in harm’s way as Alhassane Keita flung himself at a teasing low cross.
Casillas came off worse as the two players collided, but he was able to carry on after some treatment while Keita himself picked up a yellow card for his troubles.
Madrid were unable to add a third goal to their tally in the closing stages, with Ronaldo putting their clearest chance over, but it was already mission accomplished.
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