Chapter 130: A Favorable Situation
Shouting slogans about winning the title isn't unusual in the latter half of the season. Generally, such slogans help unify the team and clarify their objectives. However, José's casual and almost playful declaration didn't attract much attention.
José knew very well that Mallorca wasn't truly capable of challenging for the title this season. They had dropped unnecessary points in the first half of the season, and Real Madrid was in excellent form. The realistic goal was to secure a top-four finish, especially while other teams were distracted by European competitions.
The next league match was an away game against Barcelona. Mallorca was only one point behind them. If they could repeat last season's feat of defeating Barcelona at the Camp Nou, they would break into the top four.
However, José understood that last season's victory would be difficult to replicate. Barcelona wouldn't fall for the same mistake twice, and this time, they had only played a UEFA Cup match over the weekend, meaning they were in good condition. Forcing a win might backfire.
For José, even a draw would be an acceptable result. The gap was just one point, and Barcelona was bound to make mistakes in the remaining matches—he was certain of it.
A week later, Mallorca managed to secure a hard-fought draw at the Camp Nou. Rivaldo scored both goals in the match—one for Barcelona and one as an own goal while trying to clear the ball. That fortunate own goal earned Mallorca a valuable point.
José was satisfied with the away draw, but at home, he had no intention of dropping any points.
Since last season, José's home record as a manager had been nothing short of astonishing—an unbroken winning streak. Ten consecutive home wins last season, seven more this season, plus two Copa del Rey home victories and three UEFA Cup home wins. A staggering 22-match home winning streak. He had no intention of letting that record end.
Against Real Madrid at home, José wanted only one result—victory.
He feared no one at home, and the circumstances were in his favor. Just three days prior, Real Madrid had fought fiercely against Leeds United to secure top spot in their Champions League group. Although they won, the match had drained them. Meanwhile, Mallorca had the advantage of a full week's rest.
With all these advantages, José gave Real Madrid no breathing room. From the start, Mallorca pressed aggressively, turning the match into a physical battle. With superior stamina, Mallorca had the upper hand. Step by step, they built their attacks while denying Real Madrid any real opportunities. Vicente del Bosque had no effective counter-strategy. In the end, a brilliant goal from Luque in the 37th minute secured a 1-0 victory for Mallorca—completing a season sweep over Real Madrid.