Kylian Mbappé’s much-anticipated La Liga debut with Real Madrid concluded in a surprising 1-1 draw against Mallorca on Sunday. The defending champions were unable to secure a victory in the French superstar’s first Spanish league appearance, leaving fans eager for more.
Mbappé, who had dazzled midweek by scoring in Real Madrid’s 2-0 UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta, found himself stifled by a resilient Mallorca defense. Despite his best efforts, the forward couldn’t replicate his European success on Spanish soil.
Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, fielded the same attacking trio of Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior, and Mbappé that had impressed earlier in the week. The dynamic movement between Vinícius and Mbappé aimed to unsettle the opposition, but Mallorca stood firm.
“They interchange positions frequently,” Ancelotti explained. “Sometimes Mbappé plays centrally, and other times they switch. It depends on the flow of the game and how they feel on the pitch.”
Rodrygo opened the scoring for Los Blancos just 13 minutes into the match, igniting hopes for a comfortable win. However, Mallorca fought back, with Vedat Muriqi equalizing in the 53rd minute, much to the delight of the home crowd.
“We started well, taking the lead and creating chances for a second goal,” Ancelotti reflected. “In the second half, we lost our balance. We could have even lost the game. It’s clear we need to defend better. We’re an attacking team, but defensive stability is crucial.”
The match took a tense turn when Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy received a red card in stoppage time for a harsh challenge on Muriqi, adding to Madrid’s frustrations.
“No excuses,” Ancelotti stated firmly. “We must improve and approach games with a better attitude. There are lessons to be learned from today.”
Among the spectators was tennis legend Rafael Nadal, a native of the island of Mallorca, who watched intently from the stands at Son Moix Stadium. Before kickoff, Mallorca’s players honored the Super Cup winners by forming a guard of honor, applauding Real Madrid as they entered the pitch.
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Mbappe's La Liga debut ends goalless, Real Madrid draw 1-1 at Mallorca
cgtn.com
