Ramon the unlikely hero as Real Madrid stay alive in title race

Young centre-back Jacobo Ramon kept Real Madrid’s slim La Liga title hopes alive on Wednesday, scoring a dramatic 95th-minute winner to seal a 2-1 comeback against Mallorca. Carlo Ancelotti’s men needed a victory to avoid handing the title to Barcelona, and for most of the night it looked like they would fall short. But Ramon, on his first league start, had other plans.

Mallorca opened the scoring just 10 minutes in. After winning the ball in Madrid’s third, defender Martin Valjent surged forward and buried a low shot into the bottom corner. From then on, Madrid applied steady pressure. Federico Valverde and Luka Modric were both denied, while Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham also forced fine saves from the Mallorca keeper.

The equaliser finally came in the second half, Mbappe rifling in his 40th goal of the season. Madrid piled forward as the minutes ticked away, but Mallorca’s backline stood strong. Mbappe thought he’d grabbed the winner on 86 minutes, only for Valjent to head his shot off the line. Substitute Gonzalo Garcia then missed a sitter from just a few yards out.

But with the last kick of the game, the breakthrough came. A loose ball bounced kindly to Ramon, who lashed a volley over the keeper from close range to spark wild celebrations. It may only delay the inevitable, with Barcelona needing just one more win, but for now, Real Madrid still have hope.

GOAL rates the Real Madrid squad from the Santiago Bernabeu…

Goalkeeper & Defence

Thibaut Courtois (7/10):Made a key stop at 1-1. Otherwise largely untested.

Federico Valverde (6/10):Reliable at right-back. Got forward well and had eight shots.

Jacobo Ramon (8/10):Memorable debut. Scored a last-gasp winner and defended well.

Raul Asencio (5/10):Failed to close down for Mallorca’s goal. Subbed with injury.

Fran Garcia (5/10):Plenty of effort down the left but lacking final product.

Midfield

Dani Ceballos (6/10):Energetic and efficient on the ball. Poor without it.

Jude Bellingham (4/10):Ill-disciplined in the first half. Greedy and lazy in the second.

Luka Modric (7/10):Supplied creativity and grit. Registered an assist. Class act.

Attack

Arda Guler (7/10):Positive performance. Drew good saves. Always a threat.

Endrick (5/10):Promising early on. Faded badly after half-time.

Kylian Mbappe (7/10):Lethal finish for his goal. Selfish at key moments.

Subs & Manager

Jesus Vallejo (6/10):Unexpected cameo. Didn’t do much wrong.

Gonzalo Garcia (N/A):Missed a golden chance. Too brief for a full rating.

Carlo Ancelotti (6/10):Sent out his best available side. Won it late, barely.