FC Barcelona opened the league with a thrashing not exempt of controversy
Mallorca finished with nine players and left amid referee complaints
FC Barcelona began its journey to retaining its title in the Spanish League with a comfortable victory against Mallorca (0-3), in a match marked by the expulsion of two local players and a goal from Ferran Torres that generated strong demands from the Balearic team. Goals from Raphinha, Ferran, and Lamine Yamal shaped the scoreline at Son Moix.
Hansi Flick's charges never let up on the accelerator throughout the match and continued the good feeling from preseason with dynamic football full of clear chances. The pace of the Catalans was so high that the tie barely lasted a few minutes.
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha connected in the first great action: a measured cross from the young Spaniard ended up on the head of the Brazilian, who finished unopposed.
Mallorca tried to react and found spaces in the visiting defense, although they lacked precision in the final touch. Vedat Muriqi missed two clear chances: first he failed to finish a cross from Johan Mojica and then he came up against goalkeeper Joan Garcia in a one-on-one.
Controversy at Son Moix
The match broke in the 20th minute. A shot from Lamine hit Antonio Raillo on the head, who fell to the ground inside the area. Referee Jose Luis Munuera did not stop the game and the play continued, allowing Ferran Torres to score from outside the area. Local protests were swift and led to Manu Morlanes' first yellow card, who would soon after receive a second for a foul on Lamine. With ten men down, Mallorca tried to hold on, but another reckless move by Muriqi, who raised his leg too high on a divided ball, ended with a VAR review and the second red card of the match. Bara, with a numerical advantage, maintained their dominance and found the third goal through Lamine Yamal's left foot, who shot with an impossible curve for Leo Roman. In the final moments, Hansi Flick praised the victory and defended Ferran's controversial goal: "If the referee doesn't stop, you have to keep playing."

