Luis Garcia has shared insights on why Real Madrid faced a disappointing 1-1 draw against Mallorca during Kylian Mbappé’s highly anticipated LaLiga debut.
Real Madrid began their title defense with a lackluster performance, with Vedat Muriqi’s second-half header equalizing Rodrygo’s early goal and overshadowing Mbappé’s debut on Sunday.
The much-hyped “New Galacticos” — featuring Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior — struggled to impress in a challenging atmosphere at Son Moix stadium.
The match started positively for Real Madrid when Rodrygo scored a brilliant curling shot in the 13th minute, assisted by a clever back-heeled pass from Vinicius. However, as the match progressed, Mallorca began to counter-attack effectively, taking advantage of Real’s lack of offensive ideas despite dominating possession.
With both Mbappé and Bellingham not making a significant impact, Vinicius was left to carry the offensive burden, but he faced mounting frustrations and taunts from local fans. The stadium had remained a contentious venue for Vinicius, who had experienced racial abuse from supporters there in February 2023. On Sunday, he clashed with opponents and received a warning from the referee after engaging with the crowd.
Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois showcased strong performances, making several crucial saves to maintain his team’s lead. However, he was unable to prevent Muriqi’s powerful header from a corner that brought Mallorca level in the 53rd minute.
As the match continued, Real Madrid struggled to pose a threat, with only a couple of notable efforts from Mbappé being thwarted by a determined Dominik Greif, the Mallorca goalkeeper.
The match ended in turmoil for Real Madrid, as defender Ferland Mendy received a straight red card for a sliding tackle during added time.
While Barcelona managed to secure a comeback win against Valencia the day before, Real Madrid’s star-studded lineup seemed to labor unnecessarily, indicating that the integration of Mbappé into their system may require more adjustment than anticipated.