RCD Mallorca vs FC Barcelona (0-3): A Brief Overview

The 2025/26 La Liga campaign began this weekend, with Barça facing Mallorca away from home at the Son Moix on their opening day of the title defense. Quickly, the game turned sour with aggressive tackles, heated protests, and the usual La Liga referee drama.

Early Goals and Controversy

Barça struck after just 7 minutes as Lamine Yamal's inch-perfect cross was headed home by Raphinha. The second goal came from Ferran Torres midway through the first-half: an exceptional strike from distance. However, with this goal came a fair share of controversy. In the buildup to the goal, Lamine's powerful effort struck the head of Mallorca center-back Antonio Raíllo. As a result, Raíllo found himself stumbling to the ground, clutching his head. Yet, despite Mallorca's appeals for the referee to stop the play due to the head injury, he allowed the game to continue, resulting in Ferran Torres' goal.

Mallorca's Meltdown

Any hopes of a Mallorca comeback ended before the half-time whistle was blown. In the 33rd minute, Manu Morlanes was shown a second yellow for an unnecessary foul on Lamine Yamal. Just 6 minutes later, Vedat Muriqui was sent off for a nasty challenge on Barça keeper Joan García. After being reduced to nine men, Mallorca's spirit was crushed, especially after Raphinha avoided what seemed to be a potential red card for a dangerous tackle.

The Lamine Yamal Show

With Mallorca already on the back-foot, Barça controlled the second-half with ease as the hosts sat deep in a low-block for the entirety of the half. If there is one player on this planet capable of getting through a nine-man defence, it is Lamine Yamal. In the 94th minute, Barça's No. 10 cut inside and then unleashed a beautiful strike into the top-left corner, sealing a 3-0 victory for Barcelona and finishing the night with two goal contributions.

Flick's Assessment

After the game, Hansi Flick stated that he "didn't like the match. My team played at 50%, and this is not possible. I need to speak to the players." Based on these comments, it is clear that this season must be a step up from last season (which was great) in order to meet Hansi Flick's demands.

Final Thoughts

On paper, Barça's opening night was perfect: 3 goals, 3 points, a clean sheet, no red cards, and no injuries. Additionally, although Mallorca may complain about the refereeing decisions, it was their own indiscipline which led to a 3-0 loss. For Barça, it was a statement performance at only "50%" capacity. Going forward, who knows what they can do if they play at 100%?