Real Mallorca under new interim coach Pepe Galvez hauled themselves out of the relegation bottom four on Sunday night when they beat Albacete 2-0 in front of 9,000 ecstatic fans, in what was by far our best display of the season. The “Chapi” Ferrer cobwebs were blown away big time as the new look Real Mallorca under Pepe Galvez ran the show from start to finish. Two goals, one from a Bianchi penalty in the 51st minute, and a brilliant Brandon Thomas solo effort in the 69th minute gave Mallorca all three points and sent the crowd home happy. The Palma side broke their unenviable run of five games without a win with a different attitude to previous reversals and Galvez couldn’t have asked for a better start from his players.
The game started at high intensity with Bianchi coming close on a couple of occasions in the first five minutes. The Italian striker looked a different player on Sunday after a string of games where he has looked peripheral, and after the final whistle blew he threw his shirt into the ecstatic Ultras who more than played their part in Mallorca’s win. Bianchi’s joy after scoring the penalty was a picture, as he looked to be enjoying his new-found freedom upfront. Both Mallorca’s wide players Thierry Moutinho and especially Michael Pereira, who had another great game, caused the Albacete defence all sorts of problems, so much so that the visitors hardly got out of their own half in the first 45 minutes. We should have gone in at the break two or three goals up, missing several chances but the crowd for the first time in ages clapped them off at the interval.
It was more of the same in the second half with Mallorca pushing forward and Albacete just about hanging on. In the 51st minute came the game changer. Moutinho went down (some may say too easily) in the penalty area and the referee, Sr De La Fuente, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Pereira picked the ball up and looked to be the likely taker but Bianchi was having none of it and after a quick glance at the bench and a nod from the coach, the Italian blasted the ball into the top left hand corner, making no mistake, 1-0. He then ran over to the bench and the wild celebrations began.
Twenty minutes later came the goal of the season, scored by the returning and sorely missed Brandon Thomas. He broke out of a melée of players, ran fully 30 yards being chased by Albacete defenders but the 20-year-old kept a cool head to slot home Mallorca’s match-winning second, 2-0. That goal started (after a few practice attempts) a Mexican wave, which even owner/president Utz Claassen and his wife joined in. We haven’t had one of these waves for months.
SUMMING UP: The difference before, during and after this game was palpable, and the main ingredient which set it all off was the new Luis Sitjar stand. It was almost full, mostly with club employees and their families, with our Ultras on the left-hand side in full flow, as they returned to where they should always be, behind the goal.
I always judge fans’ feelings by the number of them who come to the bar afterwards for a warmer-upper. Ours was packed and the place was buzzing, not just because we had won, but because of the way the team had been set up by Galvez. We had much more freedom and when the injured Sissoko comes back, we’ll be even better.
On Friday it’s a trip to Tenerife for yours truly, where we play on Saturday. They’re now coached by ex-Mallorca player Pep Luis Marti who has been in charge for five games and is unbeaten, with two wins and three draws. I have to believe we’ll come away from the Heliodoro Rodriguez stadium with our first away win of the season.