A DIFFICULT RESULT TO TAKE (0-1)

All that could go wrong is going wrong for us at the moment. In another key match against a team in a similar league position, we once again tasted defeat against a team that made the most of the chance that they had inside eleven minutes but from then on we were the dominant side. We were comfortable in possession with Rajkovic in goal for Mallorca proving to be the man of the match. On the hour mark we got our just reward as Pedrosa pulled a goal back but just like in Eindhoven the defender's celebration was cut short after a VAR review which was anything but clear and obvious. It was the key moment of the game and in the end, we couldn't score again at Son Moix. 

We started positively and came close to taking the lead in the third minute. Sow found Ocampos on the right-hand side of the penalty area who then shot low across the face of goal, but Mallorca keeper Rajkovic saved well with his feet. Minutes later, Gudelj came close to replicating last season's goal at Son Moix, but it was the home side who scored first. Dani Rodríguez's cross ricocheted off Samú Costa into the path of Cyle Larin, whose powerful shot beat Dmitrovic at the near post. To make matters worse, Lukebakio had to come off before halftime with a knee injury. We knocked and knocked, but were unable to find the equaliser. Our best chances of the half fell to Ocampos and Juanlu. The Argentinian flicked Rakitic's cross goalwards before setting up Juanlu, but Rajkovic saved in both instances.

As in Eindhoven, Pedrosa was denied a goal by VAR for a questionable handball.

In the second half, we continued to both dominate possession and control the match. Januzaj had a chance shortly after the restart and, in the 53rd minute, En-Nesyri was thwarted by Rajkovic in a one-on-one situation, the home goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball as the Moroccan sought to round him. As we pushed for an equaliser, Rajkovic first denied a Ramos header, but could then do nothing about Pedrosa's shot from the edge of the area. En-Nesyri, who was looking for the rebound, inadvertently deflected the initial shot just past the Mallorca goalkeeper, but the VAR, after reviewing it for several minutes, advised referee Alberola Rojas overturn the goal for handball, much to the disbelief of both our players and coaching staff. This proved another bitter and ultimately insurmountable blow to our hopes of a result on the road, one which did not materialise despite a low Rakitic effort from distance late on. 

Despite showing positive signs, dominating at times and arguably deserving all three points, we leave Son Moix empty-handed and unrewarded in any way for the performance, piling the misery on what is proving to be a testing league campaign.  Attention now turns to Tuesday's huge Champions League showdown at Lens, as we seek a priceless victory that would confirm European football after Christmas from and allow us a shot at defending our treasured UEFA Europa League crown in the play-off round.