August 16, (THEWILL) — Barcelona commenced their 2025/2026 La Liga campaign with a comfortable 3-0 triumph at Son Moix Stadium, maintaining their characteristic early dominance that proved decisive throughout the previous season. Lamine Yamal provided the catalyst within the opening quarter-hour, delivering a precise cross from the right flank that Raphinha converted with a close-range header at the far post. The goal marked Barcelona’s 14th occasion scoring inside the first 15 minutes during their title-winning campaign, establishing an immediate psychological advantage over their hosts.
Controversy erupted during the buildup to Barcelona’s second goal when the referee, José Luis Munuera, allowed play to continue despite Mallorca captain, Antonio Raíllo, remaining prostrate on the turf following a defensive header. The official’s decision to wave play on sparked immediate protests from the home supporters and bench, with Ferran Torres capitalising on the numerical advantage by drilling a powerful strike past the goalkeeper. Mallorca officials argued vehemently that the match should have been halted for Raíllo’s apparent injury, but VAR upheld the referee’s judgement to allow the goal.
Mallorca’s afternoon deteriorated rapidly with two dismissals occurring within a five-minute span during the first half. Manu Morlanes received his marching orders after collecting a second yellow card for a hefty challenge on Yamal, having already been cautioned for his protests regarding Barcelona’s controversial second goal. Striker Vedat Muriqi followed shortly afterwards when his reckless high tackle caught goalkeeper, Joan García, in the face with studs raised, prompting VAR intervention and an immediate red card.
Hansi Flick utilised the second half to rotate his squad extensively, treating the remaining 45 minutes like an extended training session given Barcelona’s comfortable numerical and scoreline advantage. The German manager introduced several substitutes to manage workload and assess squad depth, recognising that Mallorca’s nine-man disadvantage had effectively ended the contest before the interval. Barcelona’s tempo noticeably decreased throughout the second period, conserving energy for upcoming fixtures while maintaining possession comfortably.
Yamal capped an impressive individual performance with Barcelona’s third goal in stoppage time, cutting inside from his preferred right-wing position before curling a trademark finish into the far corner. The teenage sensation’s strike is his first goal of the new campaign, complementing his earlier assist to demonstrate the creative threat he poses wearing his new number 10 shirt. Barcelona’s victory margin could have been greater given their sustained territorial control, but Flick appeared satisfied with the professional manner in which his team managed the contest after establishing their early dominance.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
