MALLORCA, SPAIN - DECEMBER 03: Manu Morlanes of RCD Mallorca runs with the ball during the LaLiga match between RCD Mallorca and FC Barcelona at Estadi de Son Moix on December 03, 2024 in Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images)
Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images
Barcelona’s La Liga campaign for the new season is set to kick off in just a few hours and it will be at the Son Moix Stadium that the Catalans make their first official appearance of the season.
The preseason for Hansi Flick’s side left the team with several positives to work with, and the manager has some serious questions to solve before naming his official lineup tonight.
While they will be heavy favourites, however, Barcelona must be very careful against Mallorca later tonight, especially given that it is the first game of the new season.
Mallorca midfielder Manu Morlanes spoke to AS ahead of the game tonight and was asked about how it was playing Barcelona in the first game of the new season, especially given how they played Real Madrid at the same venue in last season’s first game.
“Yes, last year we were able to get a point, we had a great game. I hope to be able to live the same game in front of our people, we are aware that it will be a very complicated game,” he said, remembering how they took a point off Real Madrid last season.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 10: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona is presented to the fans prior to the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and Como1907 at Estadi Johan Cruyff on August 10, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Morlanes wary of Lamine Yamal’s threat. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
The player was then asked which player he would do away with if he could remove one player from Barcelona tonight, to which he unsurprisingly said,
“I think that, as of today, Lamine Yamal. He is able to decide games on his own.”
“It’s true that they have so many other footballers capable of doing the same, but well, if I have to remove one, then I would remove him,” he added.
Finally, the midfielder was asked if former Barcelona player and new Mallorca signing Pablo Torre gave any insights on how to take Barcelona down.
“Nowadays, everything is within everyone’s reach. They play 60 or 70 games in a season, there is time to see them and analyse them, but when we do the video session about the rival, I’m sure he can contribute something,” he said.
“We know that it is a team that surprises you a lot, and each game makes many goal opportunities, they will have to be minimised,” he added on his team’s strategy.