Barcelona began the defence of their La Liga title with a 3-0 victory over nine-man Mallorca at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix on Saturday evening, with the irresistible Lamine Yamal once again a shining light for the Catalan giants.
An utterly disastrous first half for Mallorca saw them concede twice and also lose two players, with Raphinha and Ferran Torres on the scoresheet before Manu Morlanes and Vedat Muriqi were sent off.
Morlanes was given his marching orders for a foul on Yamal, while Muriqi had a yellow card upgraded to a red when VAR asked the referee to have a look at a high challenge on Barcelona's debutant goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
Barcelona then made it 3-0 in the final exchanges when Yamal fired one into the back of the net, as the reigning champions started their title challenge with a comfortable win.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Barcelona attacker Lamine Yamal on July 31, 2025
Barcelona proved to be the best team in Spain last season, and they are rightly considered to be the favourites for the La Liga title this term, mainly due to their incredible quality in the final third of the field.
In truth, this was never going to be a difficult match for Barcelona by the time that they scored the second goal, and it then became simply impossible for Mallorca once two of their players had been sent off.
Barcelona could therefore go through the motions in the second period, but they showed enough at 0-0 to suggest that Real Madrid will find it difficult to prevent them from being crowned the champions once again.
There have been question marks surrounding Raphinha and whether he can enjoy another season like 2024-25, when he was one of the best players on the planet, but he is already off the mark for the new campaign.
Yamal was also again sensational, with the 18-year-old simply a generational talent.
There will be tougher tests to come for Barcelona, but the opening weekend is all about claiming all three points, so their objective was achieved in incredibly comfortable fashion.
MALLORCA VS. BARCELONA HIGHLIGHTS
Raphinha goal vs. Mallorca (7th min, Mallorca 0-1 Barcelona)
Barcelona are already off the mark in terms of goals for the new season, and it is Raphinha on the scoresheet, as the Brazilian heads a wonderful cross from Yamal into the back of the net.
It didn't take long and Barça are up and running! ??
Raphinha heads in from a Lamine Yamal assist ?
????????? ?? @sbk | 18+ | ?????? ?????? ??????????? pic.twitter.com/HhRr7fpsmW
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) August 16, 2025
Ferran Torres goal vs. Mallorca (23rd min, Mallorca 0-2 Barcelona)
Barcelona double their advantage in the 23rd minute of this clash, as Torres finds the top corner with a wonderful strike from outside the box; Mallorca had a defender on the ground with an apparent head injury, but the game continued.
Red card: Manu Morlanes (Mallorca, 33rd min)
Mallorca are reduced to 10 men in the 33rd minute of the match, as Morlanes picks up a second yellow card for a late challenge on Yamal, who has just proven too much for the home side tonight.
Red card: Vedat Muriqi (Mallorca, 39th min)
Oh my word; Mallorca are down to nine men here, as Muriqi is handed a straight red card, following a VAR review, for a high boot on Barcelona goalkeeper Garcia. The home side have absolutely fallen apart here.
Mallorca's nightmare first half has gone from bad to worse! ?
Two goals down to Barcelona, and with a red for Muriqi they're now down to 9 men too ?
????????? ?? @sbk | 18+ | ?????? ?????? ??????????? pic.twitter.com/O6X5WhNUeh
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) August 16, 2025
Lamine Yamal goal vs. Mallorca (94th min, Mallorca 0-3 Barcelona)
Barcelona score their third in the 94th minute of the match, with Yamal getting his name on the scoresheet, firing into the back of the net from distance after working his way into a shooting position.
MAN OF THE MATCH - LAMINE YAMAL
Barcelona attacker Lamine Yamal on July 31, 2025
Barcelona have a squad packed full of incredible talent, but Yamal was the best player on the pitch, and I suspect that will not be the last time that is the case during the 2025-26 campaign.
The Spain international set up for Raphinha for 1-0 before being heavily involved in his side's second, while it was his quick footwork that led to Morlanes picking up a second yellow card.
Mallorca just could not get near Yamal, who added a goal of his own in the latter stages of the contest.
MALLORCA VS. BARCELONA MATCH STATS
Possession: Mallorca 29%-71% Barcelona
Shots: Mallorca 4-24 Barcelona
Shots on target: Mallorca 1-8 Barcelona
Corners: Mallorca 3-6 Barcelona
Fouls: Mallorca8-17 Barcelona
BEST STAT
1 - #Raphinha ?? is the first Brazilian player to score the first goal of a league season with @FCBarcelona ?? since Ronaldinho in September 2007. Connection. pic.twitter.com/Xntl4Ko2eo
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) August 16, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Barcelona will be aiming to make it two wins from two matches at the start of the new La Liga campaign when they head to Levante next Saturday.
Mallorca, meanwhile, will be bidding to bounce back from the opening-weekend defeat to the champions when they host Celta Vigo on the same day.
ID:579484:1false2false3false: from db desktop :LenBod:collect9018:
No Data Analysis info