Mallorca 1-2 Real Betis Player Ratings: Pablo Fornals Impressed in a Nervy Away Win for Betis

The visitors, Real Betis, narrowly edge out Mallorca with a 2-1 victory away from home. The first half was all about the visitors, who established a commanding lead. Their attacking intent was clear from the opening whistle.

Abde Ezzalzouli opened the scoring with a clinical finish, putting Betis in the driver's seat. Just before the halftime whistle, Cédric Bakambu doubled their advantage, leaving the home side with a mountain to climb. It felt like the game was already slipping away from Mallorca.

However, the second half brought a renewed sense of purpose from the hosts. They pushed forward with determination, and their efforts were rewarded when Vedat Muriqi pulled one back with a powerful header. This goal set up a frantic and tense finale to this match, but Real Betis managed to hold on for a crucial three points. Here are Sportsdunia's Mallorca vs Real Betis player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Real Betis’ explosive first-half display laid the foundation for victory.
• Mallorca showed real character after the break, pushing Betis deep and making the final 30 minutes intense.
• Creative midfield brilliance from Fornals and Darder stood out, shaping the tempo and attacking threat for both sides.

Real Betis Player Ratings vs Mallorca

Check out the Real Betis player ratings against RCD Mallorca in a thrilling La Liga encounter.

Goalkeeper

Álvaro Valles - 6.5: Couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. Made a couple of important saves to keep his team ahead. His distribution was a bit hit-or-miss, and he picked up a yellow card for time-wasting, which shows the pressure his side was under in the second half.

Defenders

Diego Llorente - 6.0: A difficult first half for the defender. He was booked for a handball and looked a bit unsettled. He was substituted at halftime, which tells you all you need to know about his performance. Not his best day at the office, to be honest.

Natan - 6.5: A very busy night for Natan, who racked up an impressive 11 clearances. He was a commanding presence in the air for the most part. However, he did lose a few crucial duels.

Ricardo Rodríguez - 6.5: A quiet and effective performance from the fullback. He was solid defensively and didn't make any glaring errors. He supported the attack when needed but prioritized his defensive duties. We noticed he was positionally very disciplined throughout the game.

Aitor Ruibal - 5.5: As captain, we expected a bit more. He struggled defensively, being dribbled past four times, and earned a yellow card for a clumsy challenge. He was substituted after 67 minutes. It felt like the pace of Mallorca's attacks was too much for him at times.

Midfielders

Pablo Fornals - 8.5: Our man of the match. He was simply outstanding and the creative engine for Betis. With four key passes and two big chances created, he was a constant threat. His vision and passing were on another level. A truly brilliant performance that deserved a goal.

Álvaro Fidalgo - 6.5: Provided a decent contribution in midfield before being substituted. He kept the ball moving and made two key passes. A tidy performance without setting the world alight. He played his role well in the team's first-half dominance.

Marc Roca - 7.5: A rock in the midfield. He was unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork early on. Defensively, he was immense, with nine clearances and seven duels won. What stood out to us was his sheer work rate and commitment in breaking up play.

Forwards

Antony - 8.0: A fantastic creative display, providing an assist and creating an incredible six chances. He was a nightmare for the Mallorca defense with his movement and passing. The only blemish was a missed big chance, but his overall contribution was immense.

Abde Ezzalzouli - 7.5: Scored the crucial opening goal with a calm finish. He was a constant thorn in the side of the opposition, drawing six fouls. His direct running and energy were key to Betis's attacking play. A very effective and impactful game.

Cédric Bakambu - 8.0: Scored the vital second goal that ultimately proved to be the winner. He was a physical presence up front, holding up the ball and bringing others into play. He took his goal well from a tight angle. A classic striker's performance.

Substitutes

Marc Bartra - 6.5: Came on at halftime and helped solidify the defense. A steady and experienced head when Betis were under pressure.

Sergi Altimira - 6.0: Brought on to add fresh legs in midfield and did his job without any fuss.

Ángel Ortiz - 6.0: Had a brief cameo but helped see out the win.

Nelson Deossa - N/A: Came on too late to make a significant impact.

Manager

M. Pellegrini - 7.5: His team started the game perfectly, executing his game plan to take a 2-0 lead. His substitutions were pragmatic and aimed at preserving the lead. A well-managed away victory against a tricky opponent.

Mallorca Player Ratings vs Real Betis

Here are the RCD Mallorca player ratings vs Real Betis.

Goalkeeper

Leo Román - 7.0: Despite conceding two goals, he made five crucial saves to keep his team in the game. Without him, the scoreline could have been much worse for Mallorca. A very strong performance under difficult circumstances. He can hold his head high.

Defenders

Pablo Maffeo - 6.0: A tough evening for the right-back, who had to deal with the constant threat of Abde Ezzalzouli. He picked up a yellow card and was often on the back foot. He battled hard but was part of a defense that struggled in the first half.

Martin Valjent - 6.0: As the captain, he tried to organize the backline, but they were breached twice in the first half. He was comfortable on the ball, with over 100 passes, but his primary job is to defend, and his unit was found wanting.

David López - 7.5: Mallorca's best defender by a mile. He made a crucial goal-line clearance and blocked three shots. From our perspective, he was fighting a lone battle at times, trying to keep Betis at bay.

Johan Mojica - 6.0: Got forward well and saw a lot of the ball, but his final product was lacking. Defensively, he was part of a backline that was too easily opened up. Substituted late in the game after a decent but unspectacular shift.

Midfielders

Omar Mascarell - 5.5: A really quiet first half where he failed to make any real impact on the game. He was hooked at halftime, which was a clear sign of the manager's disappointment. Not the performance he would have wanted.

Sergi Darder - 8.0: The shining light for Mallorca. He was the source of all their creativity, providing a beautiful assist for Muriqi's goal and creating four chances. His passing and vision were superb.

Samú Costa - 6.0: A combative performance, but his aggression sometimes boiled over. He committed six fouls and picked up a booking. While his energy was useful, his lack of discipline was a problem.

Jan Virgili - 5.0: He attempted a lot of dribbles but was incredibly wasteful in possession, losing the ball 25 times. His decision-making was poor and he offered very little in the final third.

Mateo Joseph - 4.5: A truly anonymous first half. He had just 16 touches and was completely ineffective before being substituted at halftime. From our perspective, he was the worst player on the pitch.

Forwards

Vedat Muriqi - 7.0: Scored a fantastic header to give his team a lifeline. He was a physical handful for the Betis defenders all night. He fought for every ball and led the line well. His goal was a reward for his tireless effort.

Substitutes

Manu Morlanes - 6.0: Came on at halftime and added a bit more control to the midfield, but picked up a quick yellow.

Zito Luvumbo - 6.5: His introduction added some much-needed pace and directness to Mallorca's attack.

Pablo Torre - 6.5: Looked lively and tried to create chances after coming on.

Antonio Sánchez - 6.0: Worked hard but couldn't change the final result.

Toni Lato - N/A: Not on long enough to be rated.

Manager

J. Arrasate - 6.0: His team started far too slowly and were punished for it. The halftime changes did improve the performance, and they looked much better in the second half. However, the damage was already done in the first 45 minutes.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's Man of the Match goes to Pablo Fornals.

Worst Performer

Mateo Joseph was the worst performer in the Mallorca vs Real Betis match.