PALMA, Spain — Defending La Liga champions Real Madrid opened their 2024/25 campaign with a 1-1 draw against Mallorca at the Visit Mallorca Estadi on Sunday night.
Rodrygo gave Real Madrid the lead in the 13th minute, but Vedat Muriqi equalized for Mallorca early in the second half. The match ended with Real Madrid’s Ferland Mendy being sent off in the closing minutes.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti fielded a strong lineup featuring new signing Kylian Mbappe alongside Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior in attack, with Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Federico Valverde in midfield.
Despite the star-studded lineup, it was Mallorca who created the first significant chance, with Samu Costa forcing a save from Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Real Madrid’s opening goal came from a swift attacking move. Vinicius Junior burst into the box and back-heeled the ball to Rodrygo, who curled a precise shot into the far corner.
Mallorca equalized in the 55th minute when Muriqi powerfully headed in Daniel Rodriguez’s corner, outjumping Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger.
Real Madrid pressed for a winner in the second half, with Mbappe testing Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif on multiple occasions. Luka Modric was brought on as a substitute as Ancelotti sought to change the game’s momentum.
Mallorca had a late opportunity to take the lead, but Antonio Sanchez shot over the bar from a promising position.
The match ended on a sour note for Real Madrid when Mendy received a red card for a high challenge in the final moments.
This result marks a challenging start to Real Madrid’s title defense, as they aim for their fifth La Liga championship in seven years.
Mallorca, who finished 9th in La Liga last season, demonstrated resilience against one of Spain’s top teams, potentially setting the tone for a competitive campaign.
Real Madrid will host Getafe in their next fixture, while Mallorca travels to face Granada as the La Liga season continues.
