Flick's Barça gets its first victory, against a Mallorca side that had everything against it and could barely compete. Lamine, once again in stellar form, the new "10" for the culés, started the new season just as he finished the last one. Three points, debuts for Rashford and Joan García, minutes for Jofre, and a clean sheet.
Goals, controversy and red cards
Flick's side couldn't have had a better start to La Liga. Within a few minutes, they were already ahead on the scoreboard thanks to a goal from Raphinha. The Brazilian's first goal came from that characteristic play between Lamine and him, a ball to the far post so the "11" could score with ease.
The second goal would come surrounded by controversy, after a play that seemed to have been ruled out. Lamine shoots; Raillo clears it with a header, but falls to the ground; however, the referee doesn't stop the match and Ferran "nails" it into the top corner with a shot from outside the box. Things would get worse for the hosts, as Morlanes saw a second yellow card half an hour into the match, leaving his team with 10 men.
However, the final blow for this match would come five minutes from the end. A ball into space for Muriqi, which the striker doesn't reach, but he does hit Joan García in the head. After a VAR review, the referee decides that this foul deserves a red card, thus ending Mallorca's chances in the match.
A second half without history
The match was over in the first 45 minutes; with two men down, the Bermellones had very few chances to get forward. On the other hand, it could be expected that the visitors would have many chances to score. Nevertheless, Flick's side slowed down several gears, as a result of the stage of the season and also because the hosts didn't fall apart.
Rashford had his first minutes as a culé and Jofre Torrents made his La Liga debut, a player who seems to have forced his way into the first team. In the last minute of the match, Lamine Yamal appeared, and with a slalom and a shot into the top corner, he capped off his match with an excellent individual performance.
Technical sheet
Mallorca: Leo Román, Morey, Valjent, Raillo, Mojica, Morlanes, Antonio Sánchez, Asano, Pablo Torre, Darder, Muriqi.
Barça: Joan García, Eríc, Cubarsí, Araujo, Balde, De Jong, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Fermín, Ferran.
Goals: Raphinha (0-1), Ferran (0-2), Lamine (0-3)
Cards: Morlanes (x2), Muriqi (straight red), Pablo Torre, Raphinha
Stadium: Son Moix