Mallorca launched a stunning second-half comeback to defeat Espanyol 2-1 at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix, clinching a vital three points with a late Samu Costa winner.
The crucial La Liga encounter saw relegation-threatened Mallorca, sitting 18th, face an Espanyol side pushing for European qualification from 7th place. High stakes meant both teams approached the match with clear objectives.
The first half began with a scrappy feel, marked by early cautions. Espanyol's Charles Pickel broke the deadlock in the 36th minute. The midfielder, assisted by T. Dolan, found the net to give the visitors a surprising lead against the run of play. Just four minutes later, Espanyol's J. Mojica received a yellow card as the tension mounted.
Despite Mallorca's overall dominance in possession and shot attempts, Espanyol held their narrow 1-0 advantage going into the break. The hosts needed to find a way past the defiant Espanyol defence and their in-form goalkeeper.
The match took a dramatic turn early in the second half when Espanyol's goalscorer, Charles Pickel, received a red card for tripping in the 54th minute. Down to ten men, Espanyol faced an uphill battle against an eager Mallorca side. The numerical advantage soon paid off for the home team.
Mallorca pressed hard, and Pablo Torre delivered the equalizer in the 65th minute, igniting the home crowd. The dynamic midfielder seized his opportunity to draw his side level. Substitutions followed as both managers looked to influence the outcome.
Despite Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović's heroic efforts, making 10 saves throughout the match, Mallorca found a way through again. With just two minutes left in regular time, Samu Costa powered home the winning goal, assisted by Omar Mascarell. This late strike completed a memorable turnaround for Mallorca.
The final whistle confirmed Mallorca's dramatic 2-1 victory. Statistics revealed Mallorca's control, boasting 69% possession and 26 total shots with 12 on target, compared to Espanyol’s 31% possession and 10 shots with only 2 on target. Mallorca's expected goals (xG) stood at 2.03, against Espanyol's 1.3.
This hard-fought win provides a massive boost to Mallorca's survival hopes, pulling them closer to safety. For Espanyol, it is a frustrating setback in their European pursuit, despite Dmitrović's stellar individual performance.
