Real Madrid Held To A Draw By RCD Mallorca In La Liga Opener

Despite extending their unbeaten run in all competitions an impressive 28 matches, Real Madrid faced a frustrating start to their 2024/25 La Liga campaign, being held to a 1-1 draw by RCD Mallorca at the Estadi Mallorca San Moix.

A Promising Start for Los Blancos

Real Madrid entered the match with momentum, having recently secured the UEFA Super Cup title.

Their victory over Atalanta BC, marked by a stellar second-half performance and a debut goal from superstar summer signing Kylian Mbappé, had set high expectations for the La Liga opener.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti opted to include Mbappé in the starting lineup, hoping to capitalize on his attacking qualities.

The match began with Mallorca, last season’s Copa Del Rey finalists, showing surprising energy and intent. Samu Costa was particularly lively, creating early chances that tested Real Madrid’s defense.

His efforts included a shot that went wide and another that forced a strong save from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was called into action early.

Rodrygo Breaks the Deadlock

Despite Mallorca’s bright start, it was Real Madrid who struck first.

Just before the 15-minute mark, Vinicius Junior showed his creativity with a clever backheel pass that released Rodrygo. The Brazilian forward, with defenders closing in, demonstrated exceptional skill by curling a sublime shot into the net, leaving Mallorca’s goalkeeper Dominik Greif with no chance.

Following the goal, Madrid looked to extend their lead. Mbappé, eager to make an immediate impact, came close to scoring, but his attempt went into the side netting.

However, the match took an unexpected turn just before halftime when Courtois made an uncharacteristic error. A seemingly harmless cross-cum-shot from Takuma Asano was parried into the path of Vedat Muriqi, who was lurking for a rebound. Fortunately for Real, Courtois regained his composure to deny Muriqi’s follow-up attempt, preserving their lead going into the break.

Mallorca’s Response

The second half saw Mallorca come out with renewed energy, and it wasn’t long before they found their equalizer.

Just minutes into the half, Muriqi, leveraging his aerial ability, powered a bullet header into the back of the net from a corner delivered by Dani Rodriguez. The goal sent excitement through the home crowd and shifted the momentum in favor of Mallorca.

Real Madrid, now under pressure, struggled to regain control. Muriqi continued to pose a threat, testing Courtois with another header shortly after his equalizer.

Madrid’s defense was forced to tighten up, but the visitors remained determined to reclaim the lead.

Missed Opportunities and Late Drama

As the match progressed, Mbappé began to find his rhythm, creating several chances that tested Dominik Greif. One of his low drives from a distance was expertly saved, and he continued to press for a goal.

Luka Modric also had a good effort, but Greif was up to the task once again, parrying the shot away.

In the closing stages, it was Mallorca who had the best opportunities to snatch a surprise victory. Antonio Sanchez found himself in promising positions but squandered two clear chances, failing to hit the target when it mattered most.

The match ended on a bad note for Real Madrid, as Ferland Mendy received a late red card for a poor challenge on Muriqi, compounding the frustrations of the evening.