Liga: Real Madrid with a disappointing Kylian Mbappé must settle for a draw in Mallorca

After winning their first trophy of the season against Atalanta Bergamo, Real Madrid travelled to the Son Moix stadium this Sunday evening to take on Mallorca on the first day of La Liga. Carlo Ancelotti’s men will want to try to do the first double in the league since the 2007/2008 season and had to start by winning tonight on a rather difficult pitch. To do this, the Italian coach lined up a 4-3-3 with an attack made up of Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius. Aurélien Tchouaméni started in midfield alongside Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham, with a classic defensive line-up featuring Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Antonio Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy. On Mallorca’s side, former OL player Sergi Darder was in the starting eleven. The start of the match was a little complicated for Real Madrid in the first few minutes.

On a cross pushed back by Militao, Dani Rodriguez controlled the ball and sent a volley while turning which skimmed the post of Courtois (5th). Mojica then unleashed a heavy strike from the edge of the area cleared for a corner by Courtois (6th). Starting for his big debut in La Liga, Kylian Mbappé quickly distinguished himself. On a counterattack, the Frenchman went off alone and made an 80m run without giving the ball to Vinicius before collapsing in the area. But the referee did not flinch (8th). After a superb connection between Bellingham and Mbappé, Vinicius gave the ball with a backheel to Rodrygo, who got back on his right foot before clearing the top corner and opening the scoring for the Merengues (13th, 0-1). Kylian Mbappé tried twice to double the lead but without success (25th, 36th). His first shot was off target, while he was too short to take the second well. At the break, Real Madrid were leading.

Muriqi and Mallorca dominate Real!

In the second half, Madrid were far too imprecise in their final move when they approached the edge of the box, especially after the break, and that’s how they were punished. On a corner from Dani Rodriguez, Muriqi, left all alone to mark Mbappé and Rodrygo, headed the ball at the far post to equalize (53rd, 1-1). And on a very good cross from Costa, Muriqi crossed his header which ended up in Courtois’ gloves. He was close to a double (56th). Real Madrid nevertheless tried to react. On a good pass from the outside of the foot from Bellingham, Mbappé received the ball in the box, got back on his right foot but did not deceive Greif who pulled off a great save (62nd). Although he had several chances, the former PSG player cruelly lacked realism in front of goal.

On a wonderful opening from Bellingham, Mbappé then received the ball in the area on the left and crossed his shot, but Greif again blocked his attempt (70th). Luka Modric got the ball at the edge of the area and curled his shot. Greif seized it twice more (82nd). On a cross from the right, Carvajal narrowly imposed himself in front of Larin, alone at the penalty spot, to clear the ball (83rd). Mallorca continued to push at the end of the match. On a good overflow from Larin, Rüdiger cleared the ball. Muriqi took it and tried to put it in but Mendy cleared on his line (86th). On a very good counterattack, Larin served Mascarell at the edge of the area who tried a shot off target (89th). In added time, Ferland Mendy committed a huge foul, synonymous with a red card (90th + 6). A logical draw given the nature of the match (1-1).