Kylian Mbappe’s La Liga debut for Real Madrid ended in disappointment on Sunday as the Spanish and European champions were held to a 1-1 draw by a tenacious Real Mallorca. Despite an early lead from Rodrygo Goes, who scored after a slick combination with Vinicius Junior, Madrid struggled to capitalize on their advantage. Mallorca equalized in the second half with a towering header from Vedat Muriqi, who had been a constant threat throughout the match.
Real Madrid’s attacking efforts were thwarted by Mallorca’s goalkeeper Dominik Greif, who made crucial saves to deny Mbappe and Rodrygo. The Madrid side, despite their star-studded lineup, found it difficult to break down Mallorca’s disciplined defense.
The match saw a late red card for Madrid’s Ferland Mendy, who was sent off in stoppage time for a high challenge on Muriqi. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s performance, citing a lack of balance and defensive issues.
“We went ahead, we had chances to score the second, and then in the second half we lacked balance,” Ancelotti said. “We conceded counter-attacks. It was not a good game. It was quite clear that we need to defend better and have better balance on the pitch.”
Ancelotti’s starting lineup was unchanged from the UEFA Super Cup victory over Atalanta, featuring Jude Bellingham in midfield behind Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo. Despite Mbappe’s previous goal-scoring form, he was unable to find the net in his league debut.
Mallorca coach Jagoba Arrasate, facing his first match in charge, was pleased with his team’s defensive performance against the reigning champions. “I’m so tired but it was worth it, it was so important to get a point against a team like Madrid, maybe the best in the world,” Muriqi said. “Scoring against Madrid is so beautiful.”
Madrid’s frustration was evident in Mendy’s reckless challenge, which further compounded their troubles. Despite numerous attempts to regain the lead, including late efforts from veteran Luka Modric, Real Madrid could not overcome the resilient Mallorca defense.
As the match ended, Mallorca’s ability to hold Madrid to a draw was a testament to their defensive resilience and a significant achievement for the Copa del Rey runners-up.
