It began with Lamine Yamal, the boy wonder whose feet continue to redraw the outlines of Barcelona’s attack. Just six minutes in, he threaded a perfectly weighted pass for Raphinha, who timed his run to slot past Predrag Rajković. The partnership that lit up last season had picked up right where it left off.
Then came the second, and with it controversy. Ferran Torres struck from distance after a challenge left Mallorca players appealing for a foul. The referee waved play on, and Torres’ shot nestled into the corner. Mallorca’s frustrations boiled over, and they never recovered their composure.
The breaking point arrived in a whirlwind of rash decisions. Manu Morlanes, already on a booking, lunged recklessly and received his marching orders. Moments later, Vedat Muriqi, the hosts’ talisman, saw a straight red for an off-the-ball altercation. Nine men against Barcelona is survival mode at best; against a side defending their crown, it is an invitation for collapse.
Barcelona, with time and space to toy with their opponent, shifted into cruise control. They dictated tempo, stretched the field, and waited. Deep into added time, Yamal crowned the performance with a strike that encapsulated his rising stardom, a curling effort from outside the box that left Rajković grasping at air.
This was less about Barcelona at their peak and more about Mallorca’s collapse. Yet, in football, champions make moments count, and Barcelona did exactly that. The trio of Raphinha, Torres, and Yamal all found the net, a reminder that Barça’s attacking arsenal remains fully stocked.
Three points on opening night, a clean sheet, and their prodigy stealing headlines once again. Flick will leave Palma satisfied. Mallorca, meanwhile, are left with hard lessons in discipline and composure, and the bitter taste of a night that unraveled far too quickly.
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