Mbappé's Disastrous La Liga Debut. Real Madrid's Show-Offs Punished by Outsider
Mallorca took points from the Royal Club.
The new La Liga season started for Real Madrid with a match that seemed straightforward on paper but was an absolute failure. They faced Mallorca, a team that finished in 15th place last season and barely stayed in the top tier of Spanish football. During the summer, the Balearic Islands club underwent a major overhaul, bringing in new head coach Jagoba Arrasate and strengthening the squad with several promising players.
Despite these changes, everyone expected Real Madrid to easily crush their opponent. The reigning Spanish and UEFA Champions League winners began the season with another trophy. In the UEFA Super Cup match, Carlo Ancelotti's side defeated Atalanta, and star new signing Kylian Mbappé scored a goal.
Fans expected the Frenchman to continue his performance in his La Liga debut. But reality proved much more complex.
Illusion of Ease
The start of the match was promising. Mallorca attempted to impose their game on Real Madrid from the first minutes but quickly faced a harsh reality. In the 13th minute, Rodrygo opened the scoring after a beautiful combination involving Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, who passed the ball with a backheel to his teammate. It seemed that Real Madrid had taken control of the game, and victory was just a matter of time. After the goal, the visitors even indulged in stylish passes and showy tricks, showcasing their superiority.
However, despite the goal and apparent display of Real's strength, Mallorca did not give up. The Balearics remained composed, tried to press, and looked for their moments. The first half ended with a minimal advantage for the Madrid side. Still, there was already a sense of unease: the hosts looked too confident, especially considering their status as clear outsiders.
Shattered Hopes
The second half brought drastic changes to the game. Suddenly, Mallorca equalized at the start of the half from a corner kick. Vedat Muriqi connected with Dani Rodríguez's delivery, and the situation on the field changed utterly. The Balearic player's shot was so precise and unexpected that Thibaut Courtois could not save the goal.
After that, Real Madrid tried to regain control of the game, but something clearly went wrong. Kylian Mbappé, a key figure in the attack, tried to take the initiative. Still, his attempts to break through Mallorca's defense were unsuccessful. The hosts' goalkeeper, Dominik Greif, saved his team several times, blocking shots and denying Real Madrid the chance to go ahead again.
As the final whistle approached, the visitors' nerves grew increasingly frayed. Luka Modrić, usually calm and confident, made a mistake in midfield that nearly led to another Mallorca goal. The hosts' midfielder, Antonio Sánchez, had two excellent chances to put his team ahead but missed both times. Real Madrid was on the brink of defeat. The situation was further aggravated by an inexplicable act from Ferland Mendy, who received a straight red card for a rough challenge in the match's final minutes.
Disheartening Conclusions
The match against Mallorca marked the first time in recent years that Real Madrid failed to win their opening La Liga game. The last time this happened was in 2015 when Madrid drew with Sporting Gijón, and that season ended with the team in second place.
Looking deeper, Real Madrid hadn't lost in the first round of La Liga since 2008, when they were defeated by Deportivo. However, the team had always started with victories under Carlo Ancelotti, making the current result especially painful. With such experience and a squad, Real Madrid should have easily secured three points, but the reality was different.
Losing points at the start of the season is a troubling sign for Real Madrid. They have a match against Valladolid, a team recently promoted to La Liga, and the "whites" must secure three points in this game. Failure to win there could make the start of the season disastrous for the Madrid club's ambitions.
Mbappé, despite all expectations, has yet to justify his star reputation in La Liga. Although his debut was full of activity and desire, the result leaves much to be desired. But this is just the beginning, and the Frenchman must adapt to the new league.
Published by Patrick Jane
20.08.2024