[Real Madrid](https://www.managingmadrid.com) made Barcelona wait for the La Liga title as they secured a drmamatic late win to beat RCD Mallorca 2-1 at the Bernabéu on Wednesday night. Kylian Mbappé was on the scoresheet again with neat footwork and a finish to match, equalising after Martin Valjent’s early strike to give the away team the lead, with Jacobo Ramón then looping the ball into the net from a hopeful long pass into the box with practically the last kick of the game.
### Three answers
**1\. With so many injuries, would we see some new faces?**
With Andriy Lunin and Brahim Díaz dropping out of the squad on match day in the build-up to kick-off, it became almost comical how limited the Real Madrid squad would be. The most experienced player on the bench was Jesús Vallejo, while the only man there to have played 90 minutes this season was youth goalkeeper Fran González. In the line up, featuring all 10 first team players in the squad, Jacobo Ramón got his first league start for the club and it ended in incredible fashion. It also meant a rare start for Endrick, only his second of the season in the league, though his best chance came on only three minutes when Leo Roman made a good save to deny him on the counter.
**2\. What would the reaction be like for Carlo Ancelotti?**
There has been some controversy about the announcement that Carlo Ancelotti has already agreed to take over as Brazil coach by the end of this month while still in charge at Real Madrid. However, there was little sign of hostility towards the coach on his first appearance at the Bernabéu since the news was confirmed. That was perhaps an indicator of the general disinterest that has followed Sunday’s Clásico. For the first time this season, the Bernabéu was not sold out. Even those who did attend did not show the same frustration, perhaps in recognition of the limitations of the squad in action or perhaps simply accepting that the season is already over. Without the emotion of farewells, which will come in the last game of the season against Real Sociedad, there was no real reaction.
**3\. Would Real Madrid gift Barcelona the title?**
Anything but a win here would have given Barcelona the La Liga title, so Jacobo Ramón’s late winner means the Catalans will have to wait to regain the title which Real Madrid took back last season. Barcelona are still only four points ahead, until their game against Espanyol on Thursday night in which they could seal first place should they beat their Barcelona-based neighbours. Should the Blaugrana slip up their, the title race will go to the weekend, though the four-point gap would mean that Barcelona would need to drop more points against [Villarreal](https://www.villarrealusa.com/) at home or Athletic Club away before the season’s end.
### Three questions
**1\. What’s going on with the turf at the Bernabéu?**
The remodelling of the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu has drawn both its admirers and its critics, but one area of concern from the works has been the impact on the field of play. The retractable field was showing visible signs of wear and tear, at a time when Real Madrid hadn’t played on the surface in 10 days. There is only one more game left to be played at the Bernabéu in 2024/25, but decisions may need to be taken about relaying the surface and adjusting how it is treated. Speculation continues to circle about the dying of the grass to a darker green, and for the first time in a year, there were signs of the playing surface disrupting what Real Madrid were trying to do on the ball.
**2\. Will Kylian Mbappé end his first season in Spain as Pichichi?**
Another game and another goal for Kylian Mbappé. It takes his tally for the season in La Liga to 28 goals in 31 games, with six in his last three games alone. It also means that he is able to stretch his lead over Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski. The Polish international is the only man who would be able to catch Mbappé at this stage of the season, with the next highest scorer being Osasuna’s Anfe Budimir on 19 goals. However, Lewandowski is three behind Mbappé and has only now been regaining fitness after two weeks out. Ferran Torres appeared to have displaced Lewandowski for Barcelona but is now out for the season with appendicitis, meaning that the Barcelona man will have a chance to catch up, even if he may not be fully fit.
**3\. What’s the objective for the next two games?**
There is still something to play for in these remaining two matches against Sevilla at the Pizjuán and Real Sociedad at the Bernabéu as thing stand. Barcelona could change that should they beat Espanyol on Thursday night. If so, there will be nothing more than pride to play for. Some will point to the imminent arrival of Xabi Alonso, looking to stake their claim, while others will highlight the need to manage fitness and avoid any further injuries ahead of the Club World Cup. In reality, the season is already close to over and Real Madrid’s attentions are already well beyond the next two weeks.