{"id":1148619,"date":"2020-06-24T23:18:43","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T22:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1148619"},"modified":"2021-03-30T09:58:17","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T08:58:17","slug":"real-madrid-2-0-mallorca-match-analysis-winners-losers-ramos-vinicius-romero","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/real-madrid-2-0-mallorca-match-analysis-winners-losers-ramos-vinicius-romero\/","title":{"rendered":"“That mythic and totemic figure that others rally around” – Winners and Losers as Real Madrid beat Mallorca to go top of La Liga"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an entertaining night of football, Real Madrid beat Mallorca 2-0 at Valdebebas.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The win takes Los Blancos back to the top of La Liga<\/span>, level on points with Barcelona<\/span> but ahead on the head-to-head tiebreaker. Who were the winners and losers?<\/p>\n

\"Black<\/a>

Black Lives Matter:<\/span> Read more about the cause footballers are taking the knee for<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Winner: Vinicius Junior<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Vinicius Junior is a beguiling figure to watch until you remember he’s just 19-years-old and Real Madrid agreed to sign him when he had barely played at all for his club Flamengo. He’s very much a work in progress who will make silly mistakes as many young players do. What’s important is that Madrid continue to support him and give him a platform to succeed, as they did today.<\/p>\n

Vinicius was lightning against Mallorca. Pitted against fellow young star Take Kubo, the Brazilian perhaps wasn’t as rounded and influential on the overall tempo of the game as the Japanese but he was the one who helped decide the outcome. He had already missed an easy(ish) chance when Luka Modric played him through 19 minutes into the game. The Brazilian had Gareth Bale run into his path but kept his cool and belied his reputation as a poor finisher by gently lifting the ball over the onrushing Manolo Reina.<\/p>\n

What’s crazy is that Vinicius missed another easy chance a few minutes later when Karim Benzema put him through because he once again went for the chip instead of just slotting it low. He had three great chances and honestly scored the hardest one. A bizarre, beguiling player but an absolute firecracker on the field for Real Madrid.<\/p>\n

Winner: Luka Romero<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Luka Romero made his debut for Mallorca today, coming off the bench in the 83rd minute trying to claw something back for Real Madrid. The young Argentine who was born in Mexico (hence his nickname of “Mexican Messi<\/span>“) showed bravery and hints of quality but couldn’t make anything happen. Yet everyone was talking about him after the match. Why?<\/p>\n

Oh, well he’s 15-years-old.<\/p>\n

15 years and 219 days, to be exact. He was born in November 2004, that’s one month after the actual Leo Messi<\/span> made his La Liga<\/span> debut for Barcelona<\/span>. Or one month after Gerard Piqu\u00e9 made his debut for Manchester United<\/span>. Or a good nine months after Sergio Ramos had debuted for Sevilla. Those three have had world-class careers that have spanned the length of his life so far and, now that they are in the latter stages, on the very day Messi turns 33, here comes this teenager to make history as the youngest-ever player in La Liga<\/span>.<\/p>\n

A true winner.<\/p>\n

\n

Meet the youngest player in LaLiga history: Luka Romero.<\/p>\n

15 years and 219 days old. ? pic.twitter.com\/uMxyZ2Gtqv<\/a><\/p>\n

— Squawka (@Squawka) June 24, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n