Mallorca: Aouate; Pau Cendrós, Nunes,
Rubén, Ayoze; Nsue, Martí, De Guzmán, Chori Castro
(Tomás Pina 72'); Víctor (Pereira 61'), Sergi Enrich (Cavenaghi
46'). 4-4-2.
Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa (Khedira 70'),
Sergio Ramos, Carvalho, Marcelo; Lass, Xavi Alonso; Di María (Özil
59'), Canales (Benzema 59'), Cristiano Ronaldo; Higuaín. 4-2-3-1.
Goals: None.
Yellow cards: Xabi Alonso 16', Cendrós 86', Cristiano Ronaldo 87'.
A set back for Real Madrid in their first game under new coach José Mourinho, the Merengues being held to a 0-0 draw by a young Mallorca in the San Moix stadium. Mourinho left his two German internationals on the bench at the start, but Cristiano Ronaldo and Higuaín put Aouate to the test early on. Michael Laudrup's team grew in confidence though, with Chori Castro firing a shot just wide and Víctor going close a couple of times either side of half time.
The introduction of Özil and Khedira improved things after the restart, but Aouate and his defence held fast, the keeper making important saves from Ronaldo and Higuaín. Mallorca could have won it themselves as well though in the end, Jonathan De Guzmán in particular almost catching out Casillas with a free kick and then crossing in for Tomás Piña to fire a shot over the bar. Madrid start the season already two points behind their closest rivals however, and Mourinho still has a lot of work to do if he is to live up to his billing and challenge Barcelona for the title this year.