By Our Man in Palma
VEDAT MURIQI proved he is the undisputed King of the Balearics as his clinical double inspired Mallorca to a crushing 3-0 victory over a shell-shocked Rayo Vallecano.
The “Pirate” was in no mood for mercy at the Estadi Son Moix, leading from the front as the home side dismantled their visitors in a dominant La Liga display. While Rayo arrived with plenty of possession, they left with nothing but a headache as Mallorca’s star men turned on the style.
The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Samu Costa—a titan in the midfield all afternoon—floated a pinpoint ball into the danger zone. Muriqi rose like a shark in the Mediterranean, powering a header home to ignite the home crowd.
Rayo barely had time to catch their breath before the Kosovan hitman struck again. Just four minutes later, the lightning-fast Zito Luvumbo left his marker for dead on the flank, squaring a low cross that Muriqi swept into the net with the coolness of a seasoned assassin.
SUPER-SUB SEALING IT
The second half saw Rayo desperately trying to claw their way back, but Mallorca’s defense, anchored by the reliable David Lopez, stood like a brick wall.
The knockout blow arrived in the 65th minute through a moment of pure bench-impact magic. Young star Jan Virgili, only just introduced to the fray, found himself on the end of a slick pass from playmaker Pablo Torre. The youngster didn’t blink, slotting home the third to turn a win into a rout.
While the goalscorers will grab the back pages, the engine room was where this battle was won. Sergi Darder pulled the strings with veteran composure, ensuring Rayo’s stars like Jorge de Frutos were kept on a short leash.
The victory moves Mallorca further up the table, leaving Rayo Vallecano to face a long, quiet flight back to Madrid. On this evidence, if you give Muriqi an inch, he won’t just take a yard—he’ll take all three points.
MALLORCA (4-4-2): Roman; Maffeo, Lopez, Mascarell, Mojica; Darder, Costa, Morlanes, Torre; Luvumbo, Muriqi.
RAYO VALLECANO (4-2-3-1): Cardenas; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mendy, Espino; Valentin, Gumbau; De Frutos, Nteka, Garcia; Camello.
