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BARCELONA, Spain — In a crucial match at the bottom of La Liga, Deportivo Alavés hosted Real Mallorca at the Mendizorrotza Stadium on Sunday, with both sides desperate for a victory to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation.
First Half: A Tightly Contested Encounter
The opening exchanges saw both teams cancel each other out, with neither side able to gain a significant advantage. Alavés, playing at home, started the game on the front foot, but Mallorca’s defense held firm, limiting the hosts’ chances on goal.
Mallorca, meanwhile, looked dangerous on the counter-attack, with their pacey forwards causing problems for the Alavés backline. However, the visitors were unable to break the deadlock, and the first half ended goalless.
Second Half: Alavés Take the Lead
Alavés came out stronger in the second half, and their pressure eventually told in the 57th minute. A well-worked move saw the ball fall to Joselu on the edge of the box, and the striker made no mistake, firing a low shot past Mallorca goalkeeper Manolo Reina to give Alavés a crucial lead.
Mallorca Fight Back
Trailing by a goal, Mallorca threw caution to the wind and began to push forward in search of an equalizer. Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute when Abdón Prats headed home from a corner, restoring parity and giving the visitors a much-needed boost.
Late Drama
With the clock ticking down, both sides pressed for a winner that could prove crucial in their battle against relegation. In the 88th minute, Alavés thought they had found the winning goal when Joselu scored his second of the game, but the referee’s assistant raised his flag for offside, much to the home side’s frustration.
Full-Time: A Point Each
As the final whistle blew, both Alavés and Mallorca had to settle for a point apiece in a hard-fought encounter. The draw leaves Alavés in 18th place, just one point clear of the relegation zone, while Mallorca remain in 19th, level on points with their hosts but having played one game more.
What’s Next?
Alavés will travel to face Real Betis next weekend, while Mallorca will host Athletic Club in a crucial match at the bottom of the table. With just a handful of games remaining, both sides will be desperate to secure victories to give themselves the best chance of avoiding the drop to the Segunda División.
Quotes
Alavés manager, Abelardo: “We’re disappointed not to have taken all three points, but we can’t dwell on that. We have to focus on our next game and keep fighting until the very end.”
Mallorca manager, Luis García: “I’m proud of the players’ effort today. We showed great character to come back from a goal down, and we’ll need that same spirit in our remaining games.”