In the opening game of their title defense, Kylian Mbappe’s Real Madrid La Liga debut was marred by frustration as a resolute Real Mallorca side held the Spanish and European champions to a 1-1 draw.
Dominik Greif of Mallorca stopped the French sensation, and although Rodrygo Goes gave Madrid the lead early on, the home team equalized in the second half thanks to a huge header from Vedat Muriqi.
In the closing moments of the match at Son Moix Stadium, Mallorca came closer to winning the match than Madrid, despite their star-studded roster.
Los Blancos defender Ferland Mendy was sent off in stoppage time for a high challenge on Muriqi.
“We went ahead, we had chances to score the second, and then in the second half we lacked balance,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.
“We conceded counter-attacks, it was not a good game, it was quite a clear game to see that we need to defend better and have better balance on the pitch.”
Ancelotti selected the same starting line-up which defeated Atalanta to win the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, with Jude Bellingham in midfield behind the Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo attacking line.
Mbappe scored in that triumph, but the former forward for Paris Saint-Germain was unable to add another goal to commemorate his first game in his new country.
In his first game in charge of the Copa del Rey runners-up, Mallorca’s coach Jagoba Arrasate could not have asked for a more difficult opponent than the defending champions, who were further strengthened by Mbappe’s arrival.
But his team accepted the challenge and scored a well-deserved point.
Madrid, who won the championship with only one loss all previous season, got out to a fast start and seized the lead thanks to a deft move involving their Brazilian attackers.
Vinicius rolled the ball backwards for Rodrygo to collect in the area and the winger bent a shot into the far corner, beyond the reach of Greif.
The goalkeeper tipped away another Rodrygo effort and Mbappe sent an effort wide as Madrid stayed on top but could not expand upon their advantage.
Arrasate urged his players to stay in the game until half-time and they duly obliged, shutting down Los Blancos’ array of stars.
