We were unfortunate to start the new year on the wrong foot with a difficult 1-0 defeat against Granada CF at Nuevo Estadio de Los Cármenes.
With the winter break of the footballing calendar finally coming to an end, Vicente Moreno made three changes to his side for our first match in over a fortnight. Antonio Raillo was favoured over Lumor in defence, while Jose Señe and Cucho Hernández replaced the suspended Iddrisu Baba and Ante Budimir respectively.
While the opening exchanges saw Cucho and Dani Rodriguez work Rui Silva, it was the hosts who took the lead on the 24th minute through Ángel Montoro. The midfielder’s late break into the box allowed him to poke home Roberto Soldado’s low cross.
Manolo Reina had to be at his best to prevent Granada from extending their lead just six minutes later, producing an unorthodox save to bat away Machís venomous effort inside the area.
The last chance of the first half fell to Cucho Hernandez, although his half-volley could only force a routine stop as we headed into the break a goal down.
We looked rejuvenated after the break and were denied an equaliser by a matter of inches when Dani Rodriguez’s curled effort from the edge of the box following a rehearsed set-piece went just wide of the top corner.
Cucho Hernández was next to shave the woodwork, flicking Martin Valjent’s whipped cross over the bar as a beaten Rui Silva watched on. The striker’s movement continued to cause all manner of problems for Granada and with six minutes left on the clock, guided a diving header at the back post off target.
The remaining 10 minutes were played at a frentic pace as we desperately searched for an equaliser, but late chances for Kubo and Martin Valjent weren’t enough for us to leave Andalusia with a point.
RCD Mallorca: Reina, Sedlar (62’), Valjent, Raíllo, Gámez, Señé (73’), Salva Sevilla (62’), Kubo, Dani Rodríguez, Lago Junior, Cucho Hernández
Substitutes: Fabrico, Lumor (62’), Xisco Campos, Trajkovski, Chavarria, Abdón (73’), Febas (62’)
Granada CF: Rui Silva, Neva, Díaz, Duarte, Germán, Machís (84’), Puertas (59’), Montoro (45’), Carlos Fernandez, Eteki, Soldado
Substitutes: Aarón, Foulquier (59’), Álex Martínez, Martínez, Vadillo (84’), Köybasi, Azeez (45’)
Goals: Montoro, 1-0 (24’)
