Rudiger stretches Real Madrid’s unbeaten run

Antonio Rudiger’s second-half header earned LaLiga leaders Real Madrid a 1-0 home win over Mallorca on Wednesday, extending their unbeaten league run to 13 games.

The result had briefly taken Real three points clear at the top, before second-placed Girona moved back level on points thanks to a 91st-minute winning goal from Ivan Martin as they beat third-placed Atletico Madrid 4-3.

Both Real and Girona have 48 points from 19 matches at the halfway point in the Spanish league season, with the Madrid side top thanks to a better goal difference.

Centre back Rudiger broke the deadlock in the 78th minute as he capitalised on some sloppy defending from Luka Modric’s corner to power a header into the top corner and score his first goal of the season.

“Great cross by Luka, great block by (Dani) Carvajal and luckily it went in,” Rudiger told reporters.

“I’m happy because it was an important goal and three important points for us. This team has something special, a good mix of young and old talent.”

Mallorca had mounted a resilient defensive display and came close to shocking Real with two efforts that hit the woodwork.

Vinicius Jr also went close to scoring on his return to action after being sidelined with an injury but Mallorca keeper Predrag Rajkovic made a superb save to deny the Brazilian in the first half.

“It’s always a difficult game when you come back from holidays,” Real defender Carvajal told Real Madrid TV.

“Mallorca played a tactically very good game, very aggressive in defence. The set piece gave us the victory.”

“We close the first half of the season as possible leaders, 48 points is a lot. In the second half we’ll be looking to surpass them.”

Real next visit fifth-tier Arandina in the first round of the Spanish Cup before taking on Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.