Madrid Missteps: Camavinga’s Struggles and a Quiet Güler as Mallorca Stuns Real Madrid
4 April 2026
Match Recap
Real Madrid endured a surprising 2-1 defeat at Mallorca on Saturday in La Liga, complicating their bid to chase Barcelona for the title.
Spanish outlet AS assessed the Madrid players after the game, labeling Camavinga's performance catastrophic and noting a lack of attacking ball control and a slow defensive return.
Regarding Arda Güler, the paper said he produced several good passes in the final third, including a ball to Mbappé in the first half that created a clear opportunity, though he could not impose his influence on the match.
The Turkish winger also had a shooting chance saved by the goalkeeper before being taken off in the 72nd minute for a substitution.
Meanwhile, Díaz was rewarded with a starting role despite Mbappé’s return, but he did not pose danger and instead focused on defensive transitions, lacking the courage and chances Arbeloa had called for.
As for Mbappé, AS noted two first-half shots that were thwarted by Léo Román; he looked dangerous whenever involved, but did not score.
In contrast, Bellingham appeared fatigued after about half an hour, while Vinícius Júnior’s late cameo failed to change the outcome. Real Madrid benefited from Militao’s return and his goal, though it was not enough to secure a victory.
In the closing minutes, Tiago Tarar (or similar) was highly active, yet Mantanton showed little and picked up a yellow card that will sideline him for the next Girona clash.
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What the Paper Said
AS highlighted the contrast between the attacking trio and the rest of the Madrid side, noting Camavinga’s catastrophic spell while praising a few constructive moments from others in the final third.
Militao’s return and his goal offered a moment of relief, but the overall performance left Madrid chasing a result rather than dictating play for long stretches.
As for Mallorca, the result added pressure on their opponents but kept their own campaign on track by securing a crucial three points at home.
In short, Madrid left Mallorca with questions to answer and a title race that clearly isn’t getting any easier. Humor aside, the season still has chapters to be written — with a map, perhaps, and a few more well-aimed passes.
Punchline 1: Camavinga’s passes were so off-target tonight that even a GPS would get dizzy trying to navigate them.
Punchline 2: If Real Madrid’s title bid relied on confidence, they’d need a miracle, a map, and a decent weather forecast for Girona.
