Did Barcelona Start Their La Liga Title Defense with a Win Against Mallorca?
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Synopsis
FC Barcelona's title defense begins with a controversial 3-0 victory over Mallorca, sparking discussions about officiating and game dynamics. Catch all the thrilling moments and the fallout from this intense match!
Key Takeaways
- Barcelona's win establishes a strong start to their title defense.
- Contentious officiating decisions sparked debates among players and fans.
- Raphinha and Yamal showcased their skills with impressive goals.
- With two red cards, Mallorca faced significant challenges throughout the match.
- Barcelona maintained control in the second half, proving their dominance.
Madrid, Aug 17 (NationPress) The defending La Liga champions, FC Barcelona, kicked off their title defense with a decisive yet contentious 3-0 victory over Mallorca in an away match. By halftime, the game seemed all but settled as Raphinha scored the opener with a cross from Lamine Yamal just seven minutes in, followed by Fermin Lopez, who increased the lead in the 23rd minute.
Frustration mounted for the Mallorca squad when play continued after defender Antonio Raillo collapsed following a clearance, allowing Lopez to score while Raillo remained down, as reported by Xinhua.
Manu Morales received a yellow card for his protests, and just ten minutes later, he was issued a second yellow for a foul on Yamal, leaving Mallorca a man down.
Things escalated further in the 39th minute when Vedat Muriqi received a straight red card after a VAR review deemed his high challenge on Barcelona's goalkeeper Joan Garcia worthy of ejection. Garcia was listed among the starters alongside Marcus Rashford.
The home crowd's anger peaked when Raphinha only received a yellow card for a late foul just before the halftime whistle.
In the second half, Barcelona maintained control of the game, while Mallorca, down two players, defended tenaciously with goalkeeper Leo Roman making several impressive saves.
Despite their best efforts, Mallorca conceded a third goal in the 94th minute when Yamal skillfully maneuvered past two defenders to score with a curling shot into the top corner, finalizing the score at 3-0.
Earlier in the week, Rayo Vallecano began the season with a 3-1 away victory against Girona. The Girona goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga, had a challenging first half, marked by two crucial errors and a red card in the 43rd minute.
Rayo was up 3-0 by halftime and managed to secure the win against a rival reduced to ten players.
Meanwhile, Oviedo's much-anticipated return to La Liga resulted in a 2-0 defeat against Villarreal. Alberto Reina received two cards and was sent off in the 27th minute, paving the way for Etta Eyong and Pape Gueye to secure Villarreal's victory before halftime.
Point of View
I emphasize that while FC Barcelona celebrated a significant win, the controversies surrounding officiating decisions merit attention. The reactions from Mallorca's players and fans highlight the ongoing debates about fairness and sportsmanship in La Liga.
NationPress
19/08/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Barcelona vs Mallorca match?
Barcelona won 3-0 against Mallorca.
Who scored for Barcelona in the match?
Raphinha and Fermin Lopez scored the first two goals, and Lamine Yamal added the third.
Why was there controversy during the match?
Controversy arose due to a goal scored while a Mallorca player was down and multiple red cards issued.
