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Real Madrid Win Season Opener Against Mallorca

La Liga Title Defense Begins with Hard-Fought Victory

Late Header Gives Real Madrid the Edge

Real Madrid secured a hard-fought victory in their La Liga title defense, defeating Mallorca 1-0 on Sunday evening at the Visit Mallorca Stadium.

The match saw Mallorca provide a strong challenge, hitting the woodwork twice during the contest. However, it was Antonio Rudiger's late header that proved to be the decisive moment, securing three points for the reigning champions.

Here are key highlights and analysis from the match:

• Mallorca started brightly with Daniel Rodriguez hitting the crossbar in the opening minutes.
• Real Madrid struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Karim Benzema seeing his header saved by Mallorca goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic.
• Mallorca continued to pose a threat on the counterattack, with Kang-In Lee forcing a save from Thibaut Courtois.
• In the second half, Real Madrid showed more attacking intent and came close to breaking the deadlock through Rodrygo, but his shot was just wide.
• With just 10 minutes remaining, Antonio Rudiger rose highest to head home a corner from Toni Kroos, giving Real Madrid the lead.
• Mallorca pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages, but Real Madrid held firm to secure the victory.

Real Madrid's victory marks an important step in their bid to retain the La Liga title. The team showed resilience and determination to overcome a difficult challenge from Mallorca.

For Mallorca, the performance was a source of encouragement despite the defeat. The team showed that they can compete with the top teams in La Liga and will be looking to build on this performance in the upcoming matches.

Overall, the match was an entertaining and closely contested affair that showcased the high level of competition in La Liga.

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