Rayo took the lead here inside four minutes, as Real Betis loanee Nobel Mendy’s magnificent raking pass in behind found Alvaro Garcia, whose cutback was turned in by Jorge de Fruto - the seventh league goal in his last eight to have arrived in the first half.
To their credit, however, Mallorca began to settle into the contest, and after visiting centre-back Marash Kumbulla headed Johan Mojica’s cross wide, Jagoba Arrasate’s men drew level. Carlos Martin lost possession, with Mojica capitalising and feeding Toni Lato, whose pinpoint ball was powered in by the arriving Vedat Muriqi for his 11th LaLiga goal of the season.
At the time, that put the Kosovan behind only Kylian Mbappe in the Spanish top flight, and although the momentum shifted again towards Rayo - with Martín not quite connecting cleanly with García’s cross at the back post - they saw right-back Andrei Rațiu go off injured, to be replaced by Ivan Balliu.
However, Rayo got their noses back in front approaching half-time, after referee Juan Martínez Munuera ruled that Martin Valjent had caught De Frutos in the face, allowing Isi Palazon to step up and convert from the spot.
The livewire De Frutos still had enough time to draw a good save from Leo Roman before the break, and near the start of the second period, Mallorca midfielder Samu Costa headed against his own crossbar.
Arrasate then made an attacking change just before the hour mark - taking off Lato and introducing Leeds United loanee Mateo Joseph - but that did not really change the complexion of the match, and clear-cut chances remained at a premium.
Of the fleeting opportunities that did arise, García wasted one of the few that seemed promising, while Palazón provided some much-needed composure in the middle as Rayo saw out the victory.
It wasn’t entirely straightforward, though, as they saw stand-in captain Oscar Valentin dismissed in the 80th minute for raking his studs down the back of Pablo Torre’s left leg, before Muriqi threatened to snatch a point in the dying moments.
Despite Valentín’s early bath, they’ll still have a positive mindset for their upcoming Copa del Rey clash with a relegation-threatened Alaves side in midweek.
Meanwhile, Mallorca, who have now conceded more first-half goals in LaLiga this season (18) than anyone else, must wait until next Saturday before they take to the field again, at home to Athletic Club.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Isi Palazon (Rayo Vallecano)
