Red Cards Haunt Mallorca as Barcelona Secure Dominant 3-0 Victory

Defending La Liga champions Barcelona began their 2025-26 season with a convincing display that highlighted both their attacking firepower and Mallorca’s disciplinary collapse. Hansi Flick’s men secured a commanding 3-0 victory, with goals from Raphinha, Ferran Torres, and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, while Mallorca were reduced to nine men after two red cards in the first half. The match at Mallorca’s home ground quickly turned into a one-sided contest, as Barcelona dominated possession, created chance after chance, and capitalized on their opponent’s mistakes to make a strong opening statement in their title defense campaign.

Barcelona started the game with intent, pressing high and moving the ball quickly to stretch Mallorca’s defense. Their breakthrough came as early as the seventh minute when Raphinha, last season’s 18-goal scorer, latched onto a cross from Yamal and powered a header past the goalkeeper. It was the perfect start for the Catalans, who never looked back from that moment. Mallorca, already struggling to contain Barca’s fluid attacking play, missed their only real chance of the opening half midway through, a miss they would soon regret. Just minutes later, poor defending allowed Ferran Torres to pounce on a loose ball inside the box and calmly double Barcelona’s lead.

From that point, frustration began to creep into Mallorca’s game. Their coach was shown a yellow card for protesting against the referee, and their players looked rattled by Barcelona’s dominance. Things got worse in the 33rd minute when Manu Morales was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Yamal. Six minutes later, disaster struck again: Vedat Miurici received a straight red card after a reckless challenge on Barca’s goalkeeper Juan Garcia. Initially, the referee had given him a yellow, but after consulting VAR, the decision was upgraded to a red. Down to nine men, Mallorca’s hopes of a comeback were all but gone.

Barcelona, meanwhile, kept pressing. Yamal was a constant threat on the right flank, tormenting defenders with his pace and skill. Twice, he came close to adding his name to the scoresheet before halftime, only to be denied by the goalkeeper. Even Raphinha, who had already scored, risked another red card after a reckless foul, though he escaped with just a booking. By the break, it was clear the match was entirely in Barcelona’s control.

The second half was an exhibition of Barca’s attacking dominance against a depleted Mallorca. With two players down, the hosts could barely keep possession, and the ball rarely left their half. Barcelona took a staggering 24 shots in total, with eight on target, while Mallorca managed just one attempt that troubled Garcia. Despite their superiority, Barcelona struggled to add to their lead for much of the half. Dani Olmo and Raphinha were denied by the woodwork, while Torres and Yamal both missed chances to put the game completely beyond doubt.

Hansi Flick introduced fresh legs in the form of Marcus Rashford, making his first competitive appearance for the club since his summer transfer. However, the Englishman had little impact, failing to find space against Mallorca’s deep-lying defense. It wasn’t until stoppage time that Barcelona finally added their third goal. Yamal, who had been dangerous all night, produced a stunning left-footed curling strike in the fourth minute of added time, sealing a comprehensive victory and capping off an impressive performance from the youngster.

The 3-0 win not only gave Barcelona three valuable points but also sent a strong message to their rivals. With their front line already clicking and their young stars continuing to shine, the Catalans look well-prepared to defend their La Liga crown. For Mallorca, however, the match was a nightmare. Two red cards, defensive errors, and a lack of discipline left them with no chance to compete, and they will need to regroup quickly if they are to recover from such a disastrous start to the season. For Barcelona, it was the ideal beginning — a blend of experience, youth, and clinical finishing that could set the tone for another successful campaign.