La Liga Player Ratings and Match Highlights

Barcelona defeated Mallorca 3-0 in their opening game of the La Liga season on Saturday evening.

It took the reigning Spanish champions just seven minutes to break the deadlock, and it came from a partnership which was so good and effective last season. Lamine Yamal was causing real problems in the opening exchanges of the match, like he typically always does, and the 18-year-old picked up the ball in a deep area out wide and whipped a picture-perfect cross to the back post, right into the path of Raphinha. The cross from Yamal put the chance on a plate for the Brazilian, and he calmly headed it into the back of the net to give Barcelona an early 1-0 lead.

In the 21st minute, Mallorca produced their first chance of the match, and it was a clear-cut one which probably should’ve been converted. The ball fell to Vedat Muriqi in a really good area inside the Barcelona penalty area, but the Kosovo international scuffed his effort and barely tested Joan Garcia when he probably should’ve scored and equalised for his side.

Muriqi’s miss proved to be costly, as just two minutes after he missed his chance, Barcelona made it 2-0, and the goal didn’t come without controversy. In the lead up to the goal a Mallorca player went down inside his own penalty area with a head injury which would typically lead to the game being stopped for the player to recieve treatment, however, this was not the case, and instead, both sets of players continue playing and Ferran Torres fired a superb strike from outside the box right into the top corner to double Barcelona’s lead.

Mallorca’s match went from bad to worse, as in the 33rd minute, Manu Morlanes was shown a second yellow card and subsequently sent off after a challenge from behind on Yamal.

After going 2-0 down inside 25 minutes and having a player sent off, you would’ve thought Mallorca’s match couldn’t get any worse, however, just six minutes after being reduced to 10 men, they were reduced to nine. This time it was Muriqi who was sent off. The big striker kicked Joan Garcia in the head after the goalkeeper came out to claim the ball, and despite being originally shown a yellow card, after a VAR review, the yellow was upgraded to a red, and Mallorca were reduced to nine men.

The chaotic first half came to a close with Barcelona in a 2-0 lead over Mallorca, with the hosts being reduced to 10 men.

Barcelona came out in the second half exactly like they did in the first half, with plenty of attacking threat and in full control of the match. Dani Olmo, who was brought on at half-time by Hans-Dieter Flick, went close to making it 3-0, but his looping header was excellently saved by the Mallorca goalkeeper, Leo Roman.

The rest of the second half consisted of Barcelona knocking on the door of the Mallorca defence, and eventually, in the 94th minute, they made it 3-0 thanks to a beautiful strike from Yamal. The Spaniard cut inside on his left foot and fired his shot into the top corner, giving the Mallorca goalkeeper no chance of stopping it.

Yamal’s goal was the last action of the match, and Barcelona won their opening match of the season 3-0.

Match Highlights

To follow soon…

Mallorca Player Ratings

GK: Leo Roman – 6.5/10

Produced a really good save in the second half to deny Olmo’s looping header. Roman couldn’t really do anything to stop the Barcelona goals as they were both well-worked and well-placed.

RB: Mateu Morey – 6/10

Quite defensively solid during his time on the pitch, but did have some shaky moments when defending up against Raphinha.

CB: Martin Valjent – 6/10

Produced several really important blocks and clearances, but struggled to deal with the pace and skill of Barcelona’s attack.

CB: Antonio Raillo – 6/10

Just like his centre-back partner, Valjent, Raillo produced some important defensive actions, but looked uncomfortable when Barcelona attacked with their pace and skill.

LB: Johan Mojica – 6.5/10

Had some sloppy moments on the ball but ended up being one of Mallorca’s players with his energy up and down the left flank.

CM: Antonio Sanchez – 6.5/10

Worked very hard in the midfield and produced some important tackles, which at times limited Barcelona’s progression through the midfield.

CM: Manu Morlanes – 5/10

Spent just 33 minutes on the pitch as he was shown a second yellow card and subsequently sent off, albeit his second yellow was somewhat harsh.

AM: Pablo Torre – 5.5/10

Never really got into the game and was substituted at half-time.

RW: Takuma Asano – 5/10

Didn’t create anything and hardly touched the ball. Asano was substituted at half-time in a batch of tactical changes from Jagoba Arrasate.

ST: Vedat Muriqi – 4.5/10

Squandered an excellent opportunity on goal just minutes before Barcelona made it 2-0, and was shown a straight red card after he kicked Garcia in the head.

LW: Sergi Darder – 6.5/10

Put a few good crosses into the box, but outside of his crossing, Darder didn’t do much during the match.

SUB: Daniel Rodriguez – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

SUB: Omar Mascarell – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

SUB: Mateo Joseph – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

SUB: Jan Salas – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

SUB: Toni Lato – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

Barcelona Player Ratings

GK: Joan Garcia – 7/10

Forced into just one routine save and hardly had a thing to do with the ball at his feet as well.

RB: Eric Garcia – 7.5/10

Although he didn’t offer much going forward, Garcia didn’t put a foot wrong defensively and was very good in possession.

CB: Ronald Araujo – 7/10

Physically dominant, but played some sloppy passes out from defence at times.

CB: Pau Cubarsi – 7.5/10

Very good with the ball at his feet and never really defensively challenged.

LB: Alejandro Balde – 7.5/10

Managed to completely nullify Mallorca’s right flank. Balde was defensively flawless and also had great energy going up and down the wing.

CM: Frenkie de Jong – 7.5/10

Hardly misplaced a pass and pretty much controlled the midfield. The Dutchman was superb in possession but was also a good protector for the Barcelona defence.

CM: Pedri – 8/10

One of Barcelona’s biggest creative threats. Pedri saw more of the ball than any other Barcelona player and just like de Jong, he was also very good defensively and did his fair share of dirty work.

CM: Fermin Lopez – 6.5/10

Solid on the ball and worked hard, but didn’t create anything of any substance during his 45 minutes on the pitch.

RW: Lamine Yamal – 9/10 (Man of the Match)

A goal and an assist for the youngster in the first game of the season. Yamal produced a fantastic assist for Raphinha’s opening goal and was a constant creative threat with his crossing and dribbling. To cap off his excellent display, Yamal scored a superb goal in the 94th minute to make it 3-0.

ST: Ferran Torres – 8/10

Scored an unstoppable goal which the Mallorca goalkeeper had no chance of saving. As well as being a goal threat, Torres’ all-round game was very good, and he was also a creative threat.

LW: Raphinha – 8.5/10

Scored a good header in the first half to open the scoring for Barcelona and had an all-around very good performance. Although he was lucky to remain on the pitch after a poor tackle at the end of the first half, the Brazilian went on to be Barcelona’s best player.

SUB: Dani Olmo – 7/10

Had plenty of shots on goal, and he managed to hit the woodwork and force the Mallorca goalkeeper into a fantastic save.

SUB: Jofre Torrents – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.

SUB: Gavi – 7.5/10

Saw quite a lot of the ball and produced an assist despite only being on the pitch a short amount of time.

SUB: Marcus Rashford – 6.5/10

Saw plenty of the ball on the left after his introduction and looked quite threatening.

SUB: Jules Kounde – N/A

Didn’t do much after coming on.