Barcelona start new La Liga campaign with a win

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Mallorca 0 -  3 Barcelona

Marcus Rashford made his competitive debut as Barcelona opened their La Liga title defence with a win at Mallorca, who finished the match with nine players.

Author | Jack L

Stadium |  Estadi Mallorca Son Moix

25/26 season La Liga | Mallorca v Barcelona | Barca have a shot
Barcelona on the attack

Raphinha headed in the opener from a precise right-wing cross by Lamine Yamal, before Ferran Torres added a second as Mallorca captain Antonio Raillo lay injured in the box after blocking a Yamal shot.

Manu Morlanes was then booked for dissent following the incident and received a second yellow shortly after for a foul on Yamal. Vedat Muriqi was sent off for a high boot on debutant goalkeeper Joan Garcia, a decision upgraded from a yellow after a VAR review.

Barcelona took until the 60th minute plus stoppage time to score their third, with Yamal hammering in the goal near the final whistle. 

25/26 season - La Liga | Mallorca v Barcelona | Home fans watch on
The home fans backing their team despite defeat

What impact did Marcus Rashford have?

Rashford entered in the 69th minute, becoming the first English player to feature for Barcelona’s first team in a competitive game since Gary Lineker in 1989. The 27-year-old, on a season-long loan from Manchester United, played as a centre-forward but did not create any clear chances. 

Both Rashford and fellow summer signing Garcia had been registered with La Liga only on the morning of the game due to Barcelona’s ongoing financial restrictions.

Ultimately, Rashford didn't have much of an impact here but he should be a key player this season.

Were Hansi Flick's comments after the match justified?

Hansi Flick was left unimpressed despite the victory, lamenting what he saw as a lack of intensity in his side’s display. With three points secured early and the season only just under way, the question is whether his criticism is fair or whether he is setting the bar too high too soon.

A 3-0 scoreline might appear convincing, yet the performance did not fully reflect the control Flick expects. The two first-half dismissals of Manu Morlanes and Vedat Muriqi made the task more straightforward, and with a two-goal cushion at the break, his players may have eased off. Whether that drop-off is an early warning sign or simply a product of circumstance remains open to debate.

Location: Camí dels Reis, s/n, Ponent, 07011 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain

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