MALLORCA TODAY - Real Mallorca 1 : 1 Rayo Vallecano

The last-gasp win over Celta Vigo on Monday gave Mallorca a much-needed boost to avoid relegation. Four nights later, mid-table Rayo, who have had, by their standards, a pretty decent season, were the visitors. Another crucial three points for Mallorca?

Things did not start well. Piti putting Rayo ahead after only six minutes, but Alfaro, five minutes later, brought things back for Mallorca. A spate of yellow cards followed and very little else, other than Baptistao hitting a post for Rayo and Dos Santos falling down in the area and claiming a penalty that never was. Otherwise, tense.

The second half wasn't brilliant, and nor were Mallorca. Rayo were only so much better but hit the woodwork again and probably should have taken all three points. They didn't, but Mallorca are, on this performance, going to struggle to get out of trouble. They are fortunate, though, to have some pretty awful teams in similar trouble, one of them up next week - away at Zaragoza on Saturday, 27 April.

Mallorca:
Calatayud; Hutton, Geromel, Bigas, Kevin; Pina, Martí, Márquez (Arizmendi 76); Alfaro, Hemed (Pereira 68), Dos Santos
Goal: Alfaro (11)
Yellows: Bigas (18), Kevin (32), Hemed (46), Pina (87)

Rayo:
Rubén; Tito, Amat (Arbilla 71), Figueras, Casado; Fuego, Trashorras; Lass, Baptistao (Carlos 66), Piti; Delibasic (Tamudo 80)
Goal: Piti (6)
Yellows: Amat (14), Rubén (16), Tito (26), Lass (67)