Barcelona has started the new La Liga season with an easy victory over Real Mallorca. After moments of short-circuit from the home team, there was no more tension. Barça were still merciful towards the nine men.
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Barcelona began their new La Liga campaign with a convincing 3–0 victory away at Real Mallorca, a result that immediately set the tone for what the Catalan giants hope will be a successful season under new coach Hansi Flick.
The German manager, who arrived in the summer with the heavy burden of restoring Barça’s domestic dominance and taking the club back to the top in Europe, oversaw a performance that combined moments of brilliance with spells of control, aided by Mallorca’s indiscipline and controversial refereeing decisions.
On the island, Flick was forced to make a key adjustment before kick-off. Robert Lewandowski, the team’s usual talisman in attack, was unavailable due to fitness issues. In his absence, Ferran Torres was given the chance to start as the central striker, a role he has occasionally filled but not always with success. Meanwhile, new signing Marcus Rashford, brought in on loan to add pace and unpredictability to the attack, had to wait for his debut from the bench. At the other end of the pitch, Joan García, the young goalkeeper signed from Espanyol, made his competitive debut for Barcelona, stepping in for Marc-André ter Stegen who was rested after a busy preseason. Frenkie de Jong anchored the midfield alongside Pedri and the energetic Fermín López, providing balance between creativity and control.
The game could not have started better for Barcelona. In the seventh minute, the visitors broke the deadlock in stylish fashion. It was Lamine Yamal, the teenage sensation who continues to grow in stature, who delivered a superb curling cross into the box. His precision was met perfectly by Raphinha, who rose highest to head past Predrag Rajković and give Barça a 1–0 lead. The early goal not only silenced the home crowd but also highlighted the danger posed by Barcelona’s wingers, with Yamal in particular looking electric from the very first whistle.
Things went from bad to worse for Mallorca in the 23rd minute when Barcelona doubled their lead in a moment that will be debated for weeks to come. Yamal again initiated the move, unleashing a fierce strike that struck Antonio Raíllo on the head. The Mallorca captain immediately went to the ground, seemingly dazed, but referee José Munuera allowed play to continue. As the home players stopped momentarily, expecting a whistle, Ferran Torres pounced on the loose ball and smashed it into the top corner for 2–0. The Mallorca squad erupted in protest, surrounding the referee in fury. They argued Raíllo’s fall was the result of a dangerous blow to the head and that play should have been stopped instantly. Munuera, however, saw it differently, interpreting the incident as a routine header and accusing Raíllo of exaggerating. The decision only inflamed the tempers on the pitch. Mallorca coach Jagoba Arrasate and midfielder Manu Morlanes both protested so vigorously that they were shown yellow cards for dissent.
The atmosphere grew even more hostile just minutes later. Morlanes, already booked, made what appeared to be a clumsy but relatively harmless challenge. To Mallorca’s disbelief, Munuera pulled out a second yellow card and sent the midfielder off, reducing the home side to ten men. Their sense of injustice was compounded soon afterwards when striker Vedat Muriqi, frustrated and desperate to spark his team, lunged into a challenge with his foot raised high, colliding with Barça goalkeeper García. Initially shown only a yellow, the decision was upgraded to a straight red card after VAR intervention. Mallorca were now down to nine players with over half the match still to play, their hopes of a comeback all but shattered.
From that moment, the game became an exercise in damage control for the hosts. Barcelona, fully aware that they were in complete control, focused on keeping possession and avoiding unnecessary confrontations with Mallorca’s increasingly agitated players. Flick instructed his men to slow the tempo, circulate the ball, and wait patiently for opportunities rather than chase goals recklessly. The plan worked: Mallorca gradually accepted their fate, their initial fury giving way to resignation.
The second half became an opportunity for Flick to rotate his squad and offer valuable minutes to younger and new players. Jofre Torrents, a promising academy product, was introduced for his first senior appearance, while Rashford finally made his debut in a Barcelona shirt, giving fans a glimpse of his speed and directness on the wing. The series of substitutions also led to tactical reshuffling, with Frenkie de Jong, normally a deep-lying midfielder, dropping back to finish the match as a central defender a testament to both his versatility and Flick’s trust in his football intelligence.
Although the scoreline remained 2–0 for most of the second half, the game had one more moment of brilliance in store. Deep into stoppage time, Lamine Yamal capped off his superb performance with a spectacular solo goal. Cutting inside from the right flank in his trademark style, the teenager unleashed a curling strike that flew into the far top corner, leaving Rajković with no chance. The goal, which sealed a 3–0 victory, was met with applause not just from the Barcelona fans but also from neutrals in the stadium who recognized the sheer quality of the strike.
For Barcelona, the night ended with a sense of satisfaction and optimism. They not only secured three points but also demonstrated the depth of their squad, the promise of their young stars, and the tactical adaptability under Flick. The performance of Yamal stood out as the biggest talking point at just 17, he looks ready to take on even greater responsibility this season. Meanwhile, Raphinha and Ferran Torres contributed decisively, Rashford got his first minutes in Spanish football, and Joan García kept a clean sheet on debut.
For Mallorca, however, the match was one to forget. Reduced to nine men, outplayed, and aggrieved by controversial refereeing decisions, they will need to regroup quickly and channel their frustrations into more disciplined performances. Arrasate’s men showed early resilience but ultimately paid the price for both indiscipline and what they felt was unfair officiating.
In the bigger picture, Barcelona’s win sends a message to their La Liga rivals. Even without Lewandowski, they looked sharp, fluid, and dangerous. If Flick can blend the experience of senior players with the exuberance of youngsters like Yamal, this Barça side could once again mount a serious challenge for the title.
Updated: 10:57, 16 Aug 2025
