The 2025/2026 LaLiga season begins with Barcelona travelling to the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix for a highly anticipated clash against Mallorca on August 16 at 18:30. The encounter promises to be a curtain-raiser full of intensity as both sides look to set the tone for the season.
Barcelona, under new head coach Hans-Dieter Flick, enter the campaign with optimism following an unbeaten pre-season run. Flick’s side displayed attacking brilliance, sweeping aside Como 5-0 and Daegu FC 5-0 in their last warm-up games. The German manager has quickly instilled a high-pressing style, and the results suggest Barcelona are ready to mount a serious title challenge.
Mallorca, guided by Jagoba Arrasate, approach the fixture with mixed pre-season form. Wins over Hamburger SV and Shabab Al-Ahli highlighted promise, but a 4-0 defeat to Lyon exposed vulnerabilities in defense. The islanders, starting from a mid-table pre-season ranking, will prioritize survival but could aim higher if consistency is found.
Key to Mallorca’s hopes will be striker Vedat Muriqi, whose physical presence has troubled Barcelona in previous meetings. Alongside him, Abdon Prats may form a two-pronged attack, supported by midfielders Samu Costa and Sergi Darder. At the back, Rajkovic is expected to start in goal with González, Nastasić, Raíllo, and Jaume Costa providing defensive stability. Absentees include Martin Valjent through injury, while Manu Morlanes remains doubtful.
Barcelona face their own selection issues. Marcus Rashford is yet to be registered, Pedri continues his recovery from injury, Ronald Araújo is suspended, and Alejandro Balde is unavailable. Even so, Flick has strong alternatives. Ter Stegen anchors the defense, with Koundé, Christensen, Iñigo Martínez, and Marcos Alonso forming the back line. Midfield is likely to feature Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and İlkay Gündoğan, while Lamine Yamal and Raphinha should flank Robert Lewandowski in attack.
History favors Barcelona, who have dominated recent encounters with four wins from the last five meetings, including a commanding 5-1 victory at Son Moix in December 2024. Raphinha’s double in that game, coupled with Dani Olmo’s decisive strike in April 2025, underline the attacking depth that Mallorca will need to contain.
This match will not only set the stage for Flick’s first LaLiga campaign but also test Mallorca’s resilience against one of the league’s strongest sides. With both teams eager to start positively, fans can expect a competitive battle in Palma.
