Barcelona began their La Liga title defence with a comfortable victory over Mallorca, highlighted by Marcus Rashford’s long-awaited debut and another dazzling display from teenage star Lamine Yamal.
Rashford’s registration was only confirmed on the morning of the match, and he entered the game in the 68th minute with Barcelona already 2-0 ahead. Playing through the middle, the forward showed glimpses of sharpness with neat link-up play, though his opportunities in front of goal were limited. He came close on two occasions, once being too slow to react and another time losing control as he attempted to cut inside. Though it was only 10 touches, it marked the start of his Barcelona journey.
The evening, however, belonged to Lamine Yamal. Just two minutes into the match, he showcased his trademark flair, twisting past defenders before delivering a perfectly weighted cross that Raphinha converted with a simple header. Mallorca had brief moments of resistance, with Vedat Muriqi and Takuma Asano testing Barcelona’s defence, but the champions remained largely untroubled.
Barcelona’s second goal came in unusual circumstances. A blocked shot left Mallorca’s Antonio Raíllo down injured, but play continued, and Ferran Torres smashed in a superb strike into the top corner. While Mallorca protested, the goal stood, leaving them two goals behind and increasingly frustrated.
Their situation worsened before halftime. Manu Morlanes received a second yellow card after bringing down Lamine Yamal during a dazzling run, reducing Mallorca to ten men. Minutes later, Muriqi saw his yellow upgraded to a red after a reckless challenge on goalkeeper Joan García, leaving the hosts with just nine players.
Despite the numerical advantage, Barcelona struggled to maintain rhythm in the second half. Dani Olmo struck the post, Raphinha fired wide, and goalkeeper Leo Román denied several efforts. Rashford combined neatly with Pedri but failed to find a clear shooting chance.
As the match edged towards full time, Yamal got the goal he had been pushing for all night. Cutting inside once again, he finished clinically to seal the 3-0 win and underline his growing reputation as Barcelona’s brightest talent.
For Barcelona, it was a routine victory, but questions remain about their second-half performance. For Rashford, it was a quiet introduction, yet one that promises much more to come.
