Date: October 20, 2024
Final Score: Mallorca 1, Rayo Vallecano 0
The highly anticipated LaLiga clash between RCD Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano on October 20, 2024, unfolded as a hard-fought encounter at Mallorca’s home ground. With both teams eager to solidify their standings in the 2024-25 LaLiga season, the stakes were high. Mallorca, in their signature 5-2-3 formation, entered the match sitting comfortably with 17 points. Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano, deploying a 3-4-3 formation, sought to climb higher from their position with 13 points.
Both teams have enjoyed success in recent encounters, but Mallorca aimed to build on their solid form after a crucial win against Real Valladolid in the previous fixture. Vallecano, coming off a win as well, hoped to extend their momentum. The head-to-head record heavily favored Mallorca, which had won four of the last five matchups against Rayo Vallecano.
RCD Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano Head to Head
| Date | Competition | Score |
| 11 Feb, 2024 | LaLiga | Mallorca 2-1 Vallecano |
| 30 Sep, 2023 | LaLiga | Vallecano 2-2 Mallorca |
| 4 Jun, 2023 | LaLiga | Mallorca 3-0 Vallecano |
| 27 Aug, 2022 | LaLiga | Vallecano 0-2 Mallorca |
| 15 May, 2022 | LaLiga | Mallorca 2-1 Vallecano |
RCD Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano Lineups and Substitutes
Mallorca (5-2-3 Formation):
- Goalkeeper: Greif
- Defenders: Maffeo, Valjent, Raíllo, Mojica
- Midfielders: Costa, Morlanes
- Forwards: Navarro, Larin, Muriqi
Substitutes:
Mascarell (77’), Dani Rodríguez (72’), Sánchez (84’), Prats (84’), Valery Fernández (72’)
Rayo Vallecano (3-4-3 Formation):
- Goalkeeper: Batalla
- Defenders: Balliu, Mumin, Lejeune
- Midfielders: García, López, Gumbau, de Frutos
- Forwards: Camello, Palazón
Substitutes:
Guardiola (55’), Pathé Ciss (55’), James Rodríguez (64’), Aridane Hernández (73’)
RCD Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano First Half
The game began cautiously, with both teams testing the waters. Mallorca created the first major chance when Robert Navarro hit the post in the 2nd minute. As the half progressed, both sides found it difficult to break each other’s defense, with most of the shots coming from long range. Rayo Vallecano had a few attempts, with Álvaro García and Sergio Camello coming close.
Despite Mallorca’s dominance in possession and corners (9 in the game), they struggled to find the back of the net. By halftime, the score remained 0-0, with each team waiting for the crucial breakthrough.
RCD Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano Second Half
The second half saw Mallorca increase the pressure, with several attacks coming from their forwards. In the 75th minute, the game saw its decisive moment: Vedat Muriqi rose above the Vallecano defenders to score a towering header into the top corner, assisted by Dani Rodríguez’s brilliant cross following a corner. The goal sent the home crowd into ecstasy as Mallorca finally broke the deadlock.
As Rayo Vallecano pushed for an equalizer, Mallorca’s defense, led by Antonio Raíllo and Martin Valjent, stood strong, denying every opportunity. Rayo had their chances, including a missed effort by Pathé Ciss in the final seconds of added time. Mallorca thought they had a second goal when Antonio Sánchez scored in the 90th minute, but it was overturned by VAR due to offside.
The game ended 1-0 in favor of Mallorca, solidifying their position in the top half of the table.
RCD Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano Stats
| RCD Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano Stats | Mallorca | Rayo Vallecano |
| Possession (%) | 50.4% | 49.6% |
| Shots on Goal | 5 | 2 |
| Total Shots | 19 | 10 |
| Corners | 9 | 2 |
| Fouls | 9 | 13 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 1 |
| Saves | 2 | 4 |
RCD Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano Timeline
- 2nd Minute: Robert Navarro (Mallorca) hits the post, narrowly missing the first goal of the game.
- 38th Minute: Manu Morlanes (Mallorca) is shown a yellow card for a rough tackle on Isi Palazón (Rayo Vallecano).
- 45th Minute: Mallorca wastes a golden opportunity as Robert Navarro’s close-range shot is saved.
- 75th Minute: GOAL! Mallorca 1-0 Rayo Vallecano – Vedat Muriqi heads in a cross from Dani Rodríguez following a corner.
- 90th Minute: Mallorca’s Antonio Sánchez scores, but after a VAR review, the goal is disallowed for offside.
- 90’+7: Full-time whistle – Mallorca holds on for a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano.
RCD Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano Impact on the Points Table
With this win, Mallorca climbs to 20 points, strengthening their position in the top half of the table. They continue their impressive home form and are now eyeing European qualification spots. For Rayo Vallecano, the loss leaves them at 13 points, keeping them mid-table but now under pressure to pick up wins to avoid slipping further down the standings.
Player Achievements and Man of the Match
- RCD Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano Man of the Match: Vedat Muriqi – His match-winning goal and excellent hold-up play throughout the game made him the standout performer.
- Antonio Raíllo and Martin Valjent also deserve praise for their defensive solidity, keeping a clean sheet under constant pressure from Vallecano’s forwards.
RCD Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano Commentary
Full-Time: Mallorca secure a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, thanks to a late goal from Vedat Muriqi. The home side defended resolutely and held on for all three points.
90’+7′: The match concludes. Mallorca emerge victorious.
90’+7′: Pathé Ciss’s shot misses wide of the left post.
90’+5′: Antonio Sánchez’s goal is ruled out after a VAR review for offside.
90’+3′: Dani Rodríguez is caught offside.
90’+1′: Sergi Guardiola wins a free kick after a foul by Antonio Raíllo.
90′: Five minutes of added time will be played.
88′: A corner is awarded to Mallorca.
86′: Samú Costa wins a free kick after a foul by Pathé Ciss.
84′: Abdón Prats and Antonio Sánchez replace Vedat Muriqi and Sergi Darder for Mallorca.
82′: Sergi Darder wins a free kick after a foul by Óscar Valentín.
79′: Pablo Maffeo’s shot is saved by the Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper.
77′: Omar Mascarell replaces Manu Morlanes for Mallorca.
75′: Vedat Muriqi scores the winning goal for Mallorca, heading in a cross from Dani Rodríguez.
73′: Aridane Hernández replaces Abdul Mumin for Rayo Vallecano due to injury.
73′: Jorge de Frutos wins a free kick after a foul by Johan Mojica.
72′: Dani Rodríguez and Valery Fernández replace Cyle Larin and Robert Navarro for Mallorca.
72′: Óscar Valentín wins a free kick after a foul by Manu Morlanes.
71′: Jorge de Frutos’s shot is saved by the Mallorca goalkeeper.
68′: The game resumes after a brief delay due to an injury to Abdul Mumin.
65′: Álvaro García’s shot misses wide of the right post after a corner.
64′: Vedat Muriqi is fouled by Florian Lejeune.
64′: James Rodríguez and Óscar Valentín replace Isi Palazón and Unai López for Rayo Vallecano.
62′: A corner is awarded to Mallorca.
61′: Martin Valjent’s header is saved by the Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper.
61′: Johan Mojica wins a free kick after a foul by Jorge de Frutos.
61′: Pablo Maffeo wins a free kick after a foul by Álvaro García.
55′: Sergi Guardiola and Pathé Ciss replace Sergio Camello and Gerard Gumbau for Rayo Vallecano.
54′: A corner is awarded to Mallorca.
52′: Vedat Muriqi wins a free kick after a foul by Gerard Gumbau.
51′: Johan Mojica wins a free kick after a foul by Jorge de Frutos.
50′: Sergi Darder’s shot goes over the bar.
49′: Cyle Larin’s header goes high and wide of the right post.
48′: Cyle Larin’s header is blocked.
48′: A corner is awarded to Mallorca.
48′: Sergi Darder’s shot is blocked.
48′: Johan Mojica’s shot is blocked.
46′: Vedat Muriqi’s header misses wide of the right post after a corner.
46′: A corner is awarded to Mallorca.
46′: Cyle Larin’s shot is saved by the Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper.
45′: The second half begins.
45’+2′: The first half ends.
45′: Robert Navarro’s shot misses wide of the right post.
45′: Robert Navarro’s shot is saved by the Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper.
44′: Samú Costa’s shot misses wide of the left post.
41′: Jorge de Frutos’s shot misses wide of the right post.
40′: Robert Navarro wins a free kick after a foul by Iván Balliu.
40′: Florian Lejeune is fouled by Cyle Larin.
38′: Manu Morlanes is shown a yellow card for a foul on Isi Palazón.
37′: Abdul Mumin is shown a yellow card for a foul on Robert Navarro.
37′: Robert Navarro wins a free kick after a foul by Abdul Mumin.
36′: Sergio Camello’s shot goes high and wide of the right post.
35′: Gerard Gumbau’s shot is saved by the Mallorca goalkeeper.
32′: Manu Morlanes’s shot goes over the bar.
30′: Antonio Raíllo’s header goes over the bar after a corner.
28′: Álvaro García wins a free kick after a foul by Pablo Maffeo.
26′: Isi Palazón’s shot misses wide of the left post.
25′: Cyle Larin’s shot goes high and wide of the right post.
24′: Jorge de Frutos’s shot misses wide of the right post.
22′: Sergi Darder is caught offside.
21′: A corner is awarded to Mallorca.
21′: Vedat Muriqi’s shot is blocked.
20′: Vedat Muriqi wins a free kick after a foul by Gerard Gumbau.
15′: Sergi Darder is fouled by Abdul Mumin.
15′: Abdul Mumin’s header misses wide of the right post after a corner.
14′: A corner is awarded to Rayo Vallecano.
14′: Sergio Camello’s shot is blocked.
11′: Vedat Muriqi’s header goes over the bar.
5′: Andrei Ratiu is guilty of handball.
4′: Samú Costa wins a free kick after a foul by Gerard Gumbau.
2′: Samú Costa wins a free kick after a foul by Abdul Mumin.
2′: Robert Navarro hits the right post with a shot.
1′: The match begins.
The match between RCD Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano was a tightly contested affair with few clear chances. Mallorca’s resilience and the decisive header from Vedat Muriqi earned them three valuable points. Rayo Vallecano, despite a valiant effort, will feel disappointed not to have taken something from the game, especially with the missed opportunities in the dying moments. As both teams look ahead, Mallorca will aim to continue their positive run, while Rayo must find ways to convert pressure into goals to climb back up the LaLiga table.
FAQs:
- Who scored the only goal in Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano?
Vedat Muriqi scored the only goal for Mallorca in the 75th minute, securing a 1-0 win. - Was there a goal overturned in the RCD Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano game?
Yes, Antonio Sánchez thought he had scored a second for Mallorca in the 90th minute, but the goal was overturned by VAR for offside. - What was the impact of the RCD Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano win on Mallorca’s position in the table?
Mallorca moved up to 20 points, solidifying their place in the top half of the table, keeping them in contention for European spots.
