Real Madrid came from behind to beat Mallorca 4-1 at the Bernabeu in La Liga on Sunday and continue their perfect start to the season. A solo effort from Federico Valverde on the stroke of halftime levelled the scores after Vedat Muqiri had stunned the home crowd by nodding the visitors ahead. Vinicius put the hosts in front before Rodrygo and Antonio Rudiger completed the rout.
Real returned to the top of the table, two points ahead of second-placed Barcelona. A much-changed Real initially struggled to gain a foothold and sorely missed injured talisman Karim Benzema in attack throughout a below-par first half. Muqiri headed in unmarked at the back post after 35 minutes and it appeared the champions would go in trailing at the break for the first time this campaign.
That changed, however, in added time at the end of the half when Valverde ran the length of the pitch before firing home a left-footed shot from the edge of the box. After the break the hosts monopolised the ball, but were fortunate when Antonio Sanchez fired wide from six yards out with the goal gaping on a rare foray forward from the Balearic Islanders.
Rodrygo’s mazy run fed Vinicius 18 minutes from time and the Brazilian forward netted for a fifth consecutive game to put Carlo Ancelotti’s side in front, before Rodrygo, who capped off a delightful run with a perfect finish, and a first goal in Madrid colours for Rudiger added late gloss to the scoreline.
Cardiac arrest in Cadiz
Cadiz goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma was widely praised after his quick thinking helped medical staff resuscitate a fan who suffered a cardiac arrest during Saturday’s game against Barcelona. The match was suspended in the 81st minute when a man in the end behind goal collapsed but Ledesma sprang into action, going to the dugout to retrieve a medical kit with a defibrillator.
He sprinted back to the section where the fan collapsed and threw the kit to medical staff, earning plaudits on social media after video of the incident went viral. “One of the medical teams went to the stands with a defibrillator and a monitor, starting the resuscitation tasks,” Cadiz said in a statement.
“At the same time, FC Barcelona offered a second defibrillator in case its use was necessary, and it was brought to the area by the players themselves. “The resuscitation was positive after a few minutes, and the fan was transferred to the ICU of the Hospital Puerta del Mar.” Barcelona won the game 4-0 with Robert Lewandowski once again on target.
Serie A: Atalanta lose points
Atalanta wasted a chance to reclaim the Serie A lead when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by promoted Cremonese on Sunday. The result left unbeaten Atalanta second but level on points with leader Napoli and third-place AC Milan.
Cremonese defender Emanuele Valeri equalized in the 78th off a rebound for his first goal in the top division, four minutes after Merih Demiral had put Atalanta ahead by redirecting a free kick from Teun Koopmeiners with a header. A penalty by French striker Olivier Giroud gave 10-man AC Milan a deserved 2-1 win at Sampdoria on Saturday.
AP/PTI & Reuters