MADRID: Antonio Rudiger's second-half goal earned LaLiga leaders Real Madrid a 1-0 home win over Mallorca on Wednesday, extending their unbeaten league run to 13 games.
The win moved Real up to 48 points, three ahead of surprise package Girona, who host third-placed Atletico Madrid later on Wednesday.
Centre back Rudiger broke the deadlock in the 78th minute as he capitalised on some sloppy defending from a corner to power a header into the top corner and score his first goal of the season.
Mallorca had mounted a resilient defensive display and came close to shocking Real with two efforts that hit the woodwork.
Vinicius Jr also went close to scoring on his return to action after being sidelined with an injury but Mallorca keeper Predrag Rajkovic made a superb save to deny the Brazilian in the first half.
Real next visit fifth-tier Arandina in the first round of the Spanish Cup before taking on Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup. --REUTERS