da fazobetai： The German defender bagged a late winner to give his side a three-point lead over surprise package Girona at the summit

da heads bet： Antonio Rudiger came up clutch to head a crucial late winner for Real Madrid as they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mallorca on Wednesday night, with usual suspect Jude Bellingham going missing for long periods of the game.

This was a frustrating contest for the home side, who seemed unlikely to find the net for long stretches, before a set-piece sealed a vital win.

The returning Vinicius Jr enjoyed the first big chance of the game, latching onto a Luka Modric pass and seeing his shot diverted narrowly around the post. The Brazilian had another effort denied shortly after, encapsulating a largely frustrating opening period for Los Blancos.

Mallorca offered some thrust of their own, with Antonio Sanchez diverting the ball off the underside of the bar and somehow away from goal. Samu Costa also carved out a chance, cannoning a shot off the base of the post.

Still, this seemed to be Real's game to lose. Brahim Diaz hit the post from inches out halfway through the second half, and the introduction of Joselu saw the home side seize control. But it was from a corner that Carlo Ancelotti's side won it. Rudiger grabbed the goal, directing a majestic, arcing header into the far corner – leaving goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic rooted to the spot.

This wasn't pretty, but the importance simply cannot be understated, as Los Blancos now lead second-placed Girona by three points, albeit the Catalans have a game in hand.

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from the Santiago Bernabeu…

Getty Images Goalkeeper & Defence

Andriy Lunin (7/10):

Beaten twice, only to be protected by the woodwork on both occasions. But he was assured with his feet, and can't be faulted for his decision-making.

Dani Carvajal (6/10):

Scampered up and down the right with his usual gusto. His crossing wasn't perfect on the night, but it didn't need to be.

Aurelien Tchouameni (6/10):

A first of many enforced starts at centre-back. Reliable in one-on-one situations, but sometimes lacking positionally. He can be exploited in the months to come, despite his individual quality.

Antonio Rudiger (9/10):

Made some excellent recoveries when Mallorca aimed to go long in the first half. Good in his tackles, buried the winner. A memorable night.

Fran Garcia (6/10):

A bit slow to move the ball, and some of his deliveries weren't exactly on point.

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Toni Kroos (7/10):

Pinged the ball around, as usual, and made things happen in the attacking third. Curled a free-kick just outside the post.

Federico Valverde (6/10):

Covered loads of ground, but lacked quality in key areas. Skewed a couple of shots wide, and mishit the odd pass.

Luka Modric (8/10):

Constantly involved, both in chance creation and ball movement. Assisted the winner, too. A class act.

Jude Bellingham (6/10):

Marked out of the game for long stretches, and tried a bit too hard when he was involved.

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Rodrygo (6/10):

Not quite at his best after an excellent finish to 2023. Fed off half chances and suggestions of space.

Vinicius Jr (7/10):

A welcome return to the side. Looked rusty early on, but created a few chances for himself. An agreeable hour.

Subs & Manager

Brahim Diaz (6/10):

Lively off the bench, but he really should have scored.

Joselu (6/10):

Changed things, giving Madrid a more direct point of attack.

Lucas Vazquez (N/A):

No time to make an impact.

Dani Ceballos (N/A):

On late on too.

Carlo Ancelotti (7/10):

Had his hand forced with a number of selections, playing Tchouameni at centre-back and Garcia on the left. It looked to be a frustrating one for long stretches, but his side were bailed out by a late winner. Take the victory, onto the next one.