Fer Niño’s debut goal in the 80th minute ensured we recorded our first three points of the season as we beat Deportivo Alavés 1-0 at the Mendizorroza.
Luis García Plaza made three changes to the side which drew 1-1 with Real Betis on the opening day of the season. Franco Russo replaced the injured Antonio Raíllo, Take Kubo was handed his first start in place of Salva Sevilla and Abdón Prats started up front at the expense of Ángel Rodríguez.
Our first away trip of the season got off to a frenetic start as Manolo Reina had to make an early stop to deny Pere Pons in the sixth minute, before Iñigo Ruíz de Galarreta tested Pacheco shortly after.
The high-tempo was not to last as we were reduced little more than Brian Oliván’s whipped free-kick effort which flew over the bar before half-time, while the hosts managed to test our No.1 with a handful of half chances.
We would head into the break deadlocked with little to separate to the two sides and it all to play for in the second half.
Abdón Prats thought he had opened the scoring just before the hour mark when he met Iddrisu Baba’s cross, but his header crashed against the underside of the bar and bounced away from danger.
The game then swung in our favour as Rubén Duarte received a second yellow card for a mistimed challenge on the newly introduced Niño.
Pablo Maffeo would be the hero in the 71st minute when he cleared the ball off the line following a goalmouth scramble which saw Reina make yet another good save.
As time began to ebb away and edged towards the final 10 minutes, Niño latched onto a Salva Sevilla through ball, rounded the on-rushing goalkeeper and poked home to ensure he had a debut to remember.
We would hold onto our lead and ensure all three points headed home with us to Palma for the first time this season.
RCD Mallorca: Manolo Reina, Maffeo, B. Oliván, Russo, Valjent, Baba (70’), R. de Galarreta (63’), Dani Rodríguez, Take Kubo (88’), Mboula (70’), Abdón Prats (63’)
Substitutes: Greif, Leo Román, Febas, Salva Sevilla (70’), Lago Junior (88’), Battaglia (63’), Sedlar, Ángel, Amath (70’), Fer Niño (63’), Gayà, Mollejo
Deportivo Alavés: Pacheco, Duarte, Laguardia, Pina (84’), Joselu (75’), Rioja, Manu García (75’), Edgar (62’), Pere Pons (84’), Lejeune, X. Navarro
Substitutes: Sivera, Tachi, Loum (75’), Guidetti (62’), Saul, Toni Moyà, Pellistri (84’), Iván Martín (84’), Martín, Abqar, Javi López (75’)
Goals: Fer Niño, 0-1 (80')
