LA LIGA Dudu Awat took enormous satisfaction from his Real Mallorca debut even though the La Liga strugglers slumped to a 3-0 defeat at home to Real Madrid.

The Israeli national keeper recently signed for Mallorca from Deportivo La Coruna for one million euros on a three and a half year contract worth 750,000 euros a year.

He had to pick the ball out of the net after just three minutes as Arjen Robben put Real ahead but Awat made some fine saves during the game to prevent a rout. Raul and Sergio Ramos also scored.

“The main thing is that I’m playing again,” he said. “The defence here lacks confidence and my main challenge is to make the defensive players mentally stronger and better organised.”

The match was Awat’s first league game for six months and with first-choice Mallorca keeper Miguel Moya expected to return from injury by late February, Awat has the chance to claim the first team jersey.