Chapter 113: Mallorca’s Suppression
Once Vicente del Bosque received Mallorca's starting XI, he was immediately convinced that Mallorca would deploy a counter-attacking strategy in this match. The lineup read as follows:
Goalkeeper: FrancoDefenders: George, Nadal, Nino, and CapdevilaMidfielders: Karaze, Mota, Ngonga, and "Little Ron"Forwards: Luke and Eto'o
Although compared to their previous match—where Mallorca had attacked with ferocity—the starting eleven had only been altered by one substitution (Ngonga coming on for Novo), Bosque discerned something more subtle. While Mallorca's midfield appeared, on paper, to line up in a diamond, in reality they were structured with the defensive solidity of a three-man holding midfield. Karaze was not only a dynamic winger but also a robust defensive asset, and Ngonga, a model defensive midfielder, completed a trio that was more than capable of shielding their back line.
Bosque had only received Mallorca's starting lineup two hours before kick-off. Under such tight timing, no further changes could be made unless a player were injured—and even then, it would cost one of the limited substitutions. Thus, he knew the lineup was as genuine as it gets.
"He really intends to catch us off-guard, doesn't he? That young man is cunning indeed," Bosque mused inwardly.
With a steely confidence, he thought, "No matter how sly a fox may be, it can't outsmart a skilled hunter." Although he had just received the lineup, Bosque had prepared for this match on both sides. Since Mallorca were set to play on the counter, his primary concern was clear: how to break through their defence and neutralize their counterattacks.
Breaking down Mallorca's defensive structure wasn't a major worry for Bosque. He was confident that with Raúl's technical flair to create chances inside the box, and with Morientes—whose attacking drive and ability to time his runs stood out from players like Kluivert—the trio in Madrid's forward line could dismantle even the densest defensive setups. Not to mention, in midfield, Figo's penetrating runs had the knack for unlocking defences. Just these three, he reasoned, would pose little trouble against a compact defence.
Yet, it was Mallorca's counterattacks that troubled him. "Little Ron" and Eto'o were both blisteringly fast, and their understanding was almost telepathic—a combination that could wreak havoc on Real Madrid's back line.
To counter this threat, Bosque decided to make a few tactical adjustments. He deployed Savio as his left winger and instructed Carlos to limit his forward passes. "Carlos's pace is our best weapon to curb Eto'o's runs," Bosque explained silently. Moreover, Bosque planned to assign Maklélé the task of "freezing" Little Ron—essentially, keeping the initiator of the counterattacks from exploiting space.