Saturday morning I woke up early, my mind completely consumed by the Real Madrid vs. Mallorca match. The night before the game, I’d already decided I’d watch the replay carefully the next day and properly organize my thoughts on what I’d seen. The first thing I did after getting up was brew a strong cup of coffee—without something to perk me up, I couldn’t focus at all.
How I Prepared to Watch the Match
I pulled out a well-worn notebook, its cover nearly falling apart. Then I turned on the TV, found the match recording, and booted up my laptop to look up stats while watching. I usually check a few soccer data sites, but honestly, their web designs are terribly outdated—ugly colors, tiny fonts, a real pain to read, like they were made a decade ago. Still, I had no choice but to grit my teeth and use them.
I replayed the first goal over and over. Vinícius scored it, taking the ball on the left and suddenly accelerating past defenders. I watched it five times straight, each replay leaving me in awe. He was moving so fast the opposing right-back couldn’t keep up, like he was stuck in mud. I jotted down: “Vinícius is unstoppable on the left. The defenders have no answer.”
Who Truly Made an Impact on the Pitch
Throughout the match, I paid special attention to Bellingham’s performance. This guy was literally everywhere. One moment he’d be pressing in his own half, the next he’d surge into the opposition’s box ready to shoot. I couldn’t even tell when he took a breather. I noted: “Bellingham isn’t human—he’s like a machine, automatically tracking the ball’s location.”
Valverde was relentless too, constantly running with almost no breaks. He didn’t just defend—he pushed forward to deliver passes, showing incredible stamina. I jotted beside it: “His legs never seem to tire; he’s always in motion.”
Then there’s Tchouaméni. He’s not flashy, but whenever the opposition tried to attack, he’d win the ball back or clear it away. I jotted down: “He doesn’t seek the spotlight, but he does all the dirty work. Like a robot vacuum, he cleans up the mess on the pitch.”
Watching Mallorca, their approach was simple: most players dropped deep into their own half, defending near their goal to keep Real Madrid at bay.This style bored me to tears, like sitting around waiting for water to boil—utterly uneventful. Yet they did have their moments. Once, their player Muric headed the ball past Real Madrid’s defense with a stunning strike. I noted: “Though Mallorca focused solely on defense, that attack was truly beautiful.”
Overall, their strategy was “just hold on,” but ultimately, they couldn’t hold on.
Why Real Madrid Scored Late
Throughout the first half, Real Madrid kept trying the same tactic: three or four players passing back and forth near the opponent’s box, searching for an opening. But after countless attempts, Mallorca’s defenders kept blocking the passes with their bodies. I watched anxiously, thinking, “What’s the point of passing like this? They’ll never get through.”
Then coach Ancelotti brought on Brahim Díaz. That changed everything. From the moment he entered, he started driving forward with the ball. The opposing defenders had been running for nearly 80 minutes and were exhausted—they simply couldn’t stop him. Real Madrid’s attack suddenly came alive. I immediately jotted down in my notebook: “Against teams that park the bus, you should bring on a dribbler earlier. Players like Díaz should be used more often.”
Meanwhile, Mallorca’s coach barely made any adjustments. Only near the end did he bring on a substitute defender, but the player looked exhausted and failed to inject any fresh energy. It felt like they had no Plan B—just digging in until they conceded.
Interrupted Mid-Match, But I Finished Watching
Around the 85th minute, someone suddenly knocked on the door. I opened it to find a neighbor asking to borrow a wrench. “Now?” I protested. “The game’s at a crucial moment!” But he seemed desperate, so I had to hand over the tool. That completely disrupted my rhythm and ruined my mood.
After returning, I felt irritable but persevered to finish watching the match and jot down my remaining thoughts:
“Real Madrid won because their key players performed well, and the substitutes brought fresh energy. When Bellingham and Vinícius were on the field, Mallorca simply couldn’t stop them.
As for Mallorca? Their defense was decent, but they barely attacked—their play was downright boring. It was like watching paint dry on a wall. Utterly uninteresting.”
Final Thoughts
Overall, I believe playing well matters more than merely avoiding defeat. Though Real Madrid didn’t score early, they consistently pushed forward and ultimately succeeded. I hope the coach makes adjustments faster next time, without waiting so long.
As for Mallorca, they need more courage—they can’t keep relying on the “just hold on” mentality. Football isn’t just about defense; you have to dare to attack.
Closing my notebook after writing this, I remembered I still hadn’t gotten that wrench back… Oh well, next time.