La Liga - Poor Madrid lose again

Eurosport - Sun, 24 May 22:15:00 2009

Real Madrid slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat in La Liga after a humiliating 3-1 loss at home to Mallorca.

FOOTBALL Real Mallorca's players celebrate a goal during their Liga match against Real Madrid at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium - 0

Madrid led through Gonzalo Higuain's 20th-minute header but goals from Juan Arango, Cleber Santana and Alhassane Keita gave mid-table Mallorca the points at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Neither side had anything to play for but it is a shocking run of form for Madrid given that champions Barcelona only lie eight points clear at the top.

Juande Ramos's time at the club is expected to be up this summer as, despite doing brilliantly to get back in the title race following his appointment halfway through the season, the team crumbled under pressure in May and conceded goals for fun.

It was easy to see why on this showing. Higuain's opener came when he drifted in at the near post to flick Rafael van der Vaart's free-kick into the net, but after that they were woeful and uninterested.

The equaliser came when Madrid's defence opened up to allow Aritz Aduritz to play Arango in, the Venezuelan finishing under Iker Casillas.

Higuain had a couple of opportunities, sending a lob just over and shooting at Miguel Moya when put clean through, but it was level at the break.

With only nine minutes of the second half played and the score at 1-1, Ramos made the bizarre tactical decision to take off Fabio Cannavaro - in his last home appearance before re-joining Juventus - and replace him with midfielder Javi Garcia.

Madrid, now playing a very wide back three, were a mess defensively and within four minutes they allowed Santana to wriggle from just inside their half before firing across Casillas into the top left.

It was a wonderful goal in terms of the run and finish but utterly avoidable, and the third was even worse.

Keita had only just come on as a sub when, with 20 minutes to go, he was given the freedom of the penalty area to work time and space to fire into the roof of the next, entirely unchallenged.

The fans voted with jeers and white handkerchiefs and Madrid - who are guaranteed second place and an automatic Champions League group stage slot - will be expected to stage a huge restructure once their new club president is sworn in this summer.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 13 of 13

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  1. OMG they were doing so well aswell, I feel sorry for a­ team like Real Madrid lose 3-1 against Mallorca what a­ shock aswell. I agree with number 1 they need a good­ defender, Not many defenders have stood out to me­ accept Hangeland who probably is not good enough to be­ going to Real Madrid, Anyway Hangeland might be moving­ to Arsenal. Real Madrid need to @#$% a player off­ barcelona, which will not happen at all.

    From Nath, on Mon 25 May 6:18PM

  2. Madrid fans cannot just accept losing.... if they­ didin't lose the last three game...Barca would have­ also won to keep up...but now there is no pressure to­ win!!! Madrid must realize that this is not their year­ and that things were not done right, thus the­ result.......Christmas is not everyday! Where's the­ breeding....accept the loss!

    From marilacson, on Mon 25 May 5:44PM

  3. And this is what ronaldo wants to go to? He may be the­ best or second best in the world but there is no way­ that he alone will change this team into a dominant­ European force.

    From alextheodossiadis, on Mon 25 May 5:29PM

  4. It's rather amazing what can happen to such a great­ team of not many years back... I guess, Ramos will have­ to leave now...

    From gordon.merk, on Mon 25 May 4:08PM

  5. FEELING SO SORRY FOR YOU, GET.....44, YOU REALLY NEED­ AN URGENT DEEP BRAIN SURGERY. THE BEST OF LUCK AND­ GET_WELL S44N.

    From Eslay, on Mon 25 May 10:30AM

  6. the most important in this week
    the way barca fans­ react toward the ref
    i'm happy 3 things spoil­ barca's party
    1 osasona
    2 ref
    3 forlan
    after this 3­ things i was very happy pep gurdi, xavi, eto and the­ fans all were cry
    the most shameful thing is one of the­ fans came to the pitch to interupt the ref
    what­ uneducated people ouf!
    you cause problem in london now­ here
    spanish fedaration must make the next 5 matches in­ camp nou without people for the safety of the ref and­ the other team

    From getachew44, on Mon 25 May 8:55AM

  7. barca win the league because we gave them imagine if we­ won the last 3 match we were 87 points 1 better than­ you
    at this point your league and CL was in great­ danger
    ok look i'm not here because the match was­ useless to both teams
    mallorca are mid table and we­ have nothing to play
    when you are in best league and­ you sicure the second place before 6 weeks and in time­ you are suffering that tells alot about real
    when­ barca where suffering from 2000 to 2004 they play only­ to secure place in CL
    don't be so arrogant­ remaimber after you won the league in 1999 after that­ how many years do you wait to win again 6­ years
    why?
    because perez came in 2000 and break your­ team by taking only figo
    now don't showof to much­ i'm smelling the same thing will happen

    From getachew44, on Mon 25 May 8:35AM

  8. despite loss,my heart is still with real­ madrid....huhu.

    From hakim_world, on Mon 25 May 7:00AM

  9. Abby, u wont find him here quite a while, try Barca­ pages instead. although he declared himself all white­ madrid, Barca fascinates him more..:)

    From carlamms, on Mon 25 May 1:30AM

  10. getachew44...where r u!

    From Abby, on Sun 24 May 11:58PM

  11. Real Madrid are the worst team ever

    GLORY GLORY MAN­ UTD

    From saeed, on Sun 24 May 11:19PM

  12. i hope Perez makes some noice!

    From chechenr, on Sun 24 May 10:34PM

  13. stupid, stupid, stupid. Why take Cannavaro off?? Unless­ Real buy a very good defender in the summer,­ they're just going to take this poor defensive form­ with them to next season.

    From Simon, on Sun 24 May 10:07PM
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