Chapter 164: Victory Unstoppable, Even with One Less Man
Mallorca's second goal came in the 43rd minute of the match, just before halftime.
After José's tactical adjustment, Mallorca's midfield stabilized, gaining more attacking opportunities. Their nimble offensive play left Schalke's towering defenders in disarray. This goal was merely a product of their growing dominance on the field.
Schalke 04 fought fiercely, but their attacking plays were relatively easy for Mallorca to defend against. Mallorca had no shortage of tall defenders in their backline. However, Schalke's defenders struggled to cope with Mallorca's attacks, especially as Mallorca's midfield gained increasing control over possession.
This fundamental difference set the tone for the match.
During halftime, José emphasized maintaining their technical superiority in the second half. The key was to control possession in midfield while ensuring defensive stability. He instructed his players not to rush into long balls but to focus on playing short, ground passes.
Schalke 04 had no effective response to this strategy. They continuously attempted crosses from the wings to create scoring opportunities in the center, but Mallorca's defense was impenetrable. Even when Van Buyten and Kaladze occasionally missed a clearance, the experienced Nadal was always there to cover and neutralize the danger. Meanwhile, Mallorca's attacks kept Schalke's goal under constant threat.
In the 79th minute, Eto'o returned the favor to Luque with an assist. After breaking down the flank, Eto'o delivered a half-height cross, and Luque dived forward to head the ball into the bottom corner of the net. 2-0. Mallorca had sealed the victory.
With this loss, Schalke 04's chances of advancing were all but extinguished. Though mathematically still alive, their hopes were slim at best.
On the other hand, Mallorca's victory significantly boosted their chances of qualifying. Panathinaikos lost 1-2 at home to Arsenal, dropping to third place. Arsenal, after losing to Mallorca, had now secured back-to-back wins and moved up to second. Mallorca, with seven points, topped the group.
Upon returning to Mallorca, José was showered with praise from the Spanish media. Among the four Spanish teams in the Champions League, only Real Madrid, with three consecutive wins, had practically secured qualification. The other two teams had not fared as well—Barcelona had lost to Leverkusen, and Deportivo had drawn against both Olympiacos and Lille. If not for their victory over Manchester United, they might have been bottom of their group. Given this context, Mallorca's performance was all the more remarkable.
"Perhaps we should stop calling Mallorca a dark horse. In the past three seasons, they've finished in La Liga's top three twice, won the UEFA Cup, and were runners-up in the Cup Winners' Cup. Even for the traditional powerhouses, such achievements aren't easy to replicate. Moreover, this season, Mallorca has been outstanding in both the Champions League and La Liga. If they maintain this level, no one can deny that they have become a serious force in European football!"