Relegation-threatened Mallorca dent Real's title hopes with 2-1 LaLiga win

PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain, April 4 : Mallorca dealt a major blow to Real Madrid's title aspirations as Vedat Muriqi scored an added-time winner to secure a 2-1 win for the hosts, leaving Real four points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona who play Atletico Madrid later on Saturday.

Kosovo forward Muriqi, who was panned for his lacklustre performance when his country failed to qualify for the World Cup with a loss to Turkey on Tuesday, broke down in tears as his strike lifted Mallorca two points above the bottom three.

"Sometimes the emotions get the better of you, you can't keep the tears in," said Muriqi, who is second in LaLiga's scoring charts with 18 goals, five below Real's Kylian Mbappe.

"Losing what was a final for us to reach the World Cup, then we're winning and (Real) equalise. Then, the late goal... I'm just happy to repay (the supporters), we want to stay in this division for them."

Mallorca withstood sustained pressure from Real throughout the first half, as the visitors dominated possession and targeted Mbappe with crosses.

Mbappe had an early shot blocked by a sliding Pablo Torre, before keeper Leo Roman kept out his close-range effort with an outstretched foot in the 22nd minute.

Roman denied Mbappe again with a diving save three minutes later, before keeping out Arda Guler's volley shortly after the half-hour mark.

MAFFEO FINDS A WAY FOR MALLORCA

Mallorca right-back Pablo Maffeo fought back with a probing run in the 35th minute, and his perfect cross found Muriqi, who set up Manu Morlanes in the six-yard box, only for the midfielder to head wide.

But the same attacking blueprint paid off for Mallorca just seven minutes later, when Morlanes sprinted into the box to receive Maffeo's cross with a light touch before