By Sachin Shankar Yadav 
Barcelona defeated Mallorca 3-0 at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix to start their La Liga title defense in a commanding manner. The defending champions displayed their attacking ability and tactical strength in the August 16, 2025, match, while Mallorca struggled mightily and finished the first half with just nine men on the field after two red cards.
- 7th Minute – Raphinha opens the scoring: Lamine Yamal’s exquisite cross was headed in by Raphinha, giving Barcelona the lead early on and highlighting the attacking connection that could prove pivotal all season long.
- 23 Minute – Ferran Torres Doubles the Lead: Torres scored an incredible goal from beyond the box. Despite a Mallorca defender’s head injury, the game went on, giving Barça a contentious but easy 2-0 lead.
Two Red Cards: Mallorca’s Nightmare
- 33rd Minute: After a late challenge on Yamal, Manu Morlanes of Mallorca was given a second yellow card, bringing the team down to ten men.
- 39th Minute: Mallorca had just nine players left for the rest of the match after Vedat Muriqi was sent off for a dangerous high challenge on Barcelona rookie goalkeeper Joan Garcia following a VAR review.
94th Minute — Lamine Yamal Seals the Win: Yamal highlighted his status as a rising star in world football with a long-range goal in injury time, capping the evening after an outstanding performance throughout the game.
- Man of the Match: Lamine Yamal
- Supplied the first goal’s assist.
- Played a key role in generating the fouls that resulted in Mallorca’s dismissal.
- Finished a fantastic performance by scoring the game-winning goal.
| Mallorca | Barcelona | |
| Possession | 29% | 71% |
| Shots | 4 | 24 |
| Shots on Target | 1 | 8 |
| Corners | 3 | 6 |
| Fouls | 8 | 17 |
Mallorca XI
Leo Roman, Jaume, Raillo, Valjent, Mojica, Morlanes, Sánchez, Darder, Pablo Torre, Asano, and Muriqi
Barcelona XI
Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Cubarsí, Araujo, Balde, De Jong, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres
Post – Match Verdict
Yamal emerged as a generational talent, and Barcelona looked polished and self-assured. After two red cards in the first half, Mallorca’s hopes were crushed, and the Catalans easily won all three points. Barcelona’s 2025–26 La Liga campaign will be strongly impacted by this outcome, while Mallorca will be hoping for improved discipline and luck in their next games.