Slovak defender Martin Valjent (left) of RCD Mallorca watches as Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé (second from right) fires a shot on goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Mallorca in Madrid on Wednesday, 14 May 2025. (source: TASR/AP/Manu Fernandez)
Martin Valjent played the game of his life on Wednesday. But it still wasn’t enough.
The Slovak centre-back, a key figure for Spanish side RCD Mallorca, stunned Real Madrid with an early goal at the Santiago Bernabéu – a stadium where visiting defenders rarely make headlines for scoring. In just the 11th minute, Valjent ventured forward unexpectedly, turned sharply, and fired a left-footed strike into the bottom corner. Even Thibaut Courtois, one of the world’s elite goalkeepers, stood no chance.
Real had to win
Real Madrid 2–1 RCD Mallorca (0–1)
Goals: 68' Mbappé, 90+5' Ramón – 11' Valjent
“He didn’t hesitate and hit it perfectly,” said a Nova Sport commentator, as quoted by Sportnet.
After that, Valjent did what he does best. He defended with grit and intelligence – blocking shots, throwing himself into tackles and clearing danger repeatedly as Real turned up the pressure. With the match winding down, he even denied Kylian Mbappé on the goal line, covering for his beaten keeper.
But Mallorca’s resistance cracked. Real equalised, then snatched victory with a 95th-minute winner to keep their title push alive.
Leo Román, Mallorca’s second-choice goalkeeper, delivered a career-best performance with 14 saves – an extraordinary figure in a single match. But it was all undone by one teammate’s late mistake.
“It hurts,” said Mallorca head coach Jagoba Arrasate. “We had the point in our hands.”
Slovakia’s Dominik Greif, Mallorca’s regular No.1 this season, watched from the bench.
For Valjent, the night ended in frustration – but not without a place in history. He became the first Slovak defender ever to score at the newly renovated Bernabéu.
