Real Madrid Held to Draw in Mbappé's La Liga Debut
- Real Madrid and Mallorca played to a 1-1 draw in Mbappé's debut Spanish league match.
- Defending champion Real Madrid was held to a tie by Mallorca despite high expectations.
- Kylian Mbappé did not find the net in his first league game for Real Madrid.
MADRID (AP) — Defending champions Real Madrid faced a disappointing 1-1 draw against Mallorca in Kylian Mbappé's first match in the Spanish league on Sunday. The French superstar had previously scored in Madrid's 2-0 victory over Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup. Coach Carlo Ancelotti noted the fluid positioning of Mbappé and Vinicius, indicating their adaptability on the field. Real Madrid initially took the lead with a goal from Rodrygo just 13 minutes into the match. However, Mallorca equalized in the 53rd minute through Vedat Muriqi. Ancelotti expressed frustration with his team's performance, stating, “We got off to a good start... but we didn’t find the balance in the second half.” He emphasized the need for improvement and a better attitude moving forward. The match drew notable attention, with tennis legend Rafael Nadal, a native of Mallorca, among the spectators at Son Moix Stadium. In a show of respect, Mallorca's players formed a guard of honor for the Super Cup winners as they entered the field before kickoff. In other league action, Real Sociedad suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat at home to Rayo Vallecano, who narrowly avoided relegation last season. Meanwhile, Barcelona secured a 2-1 victory at Valencia, with Robert Lewandowski scoring both goals in coach Hansi Flick's debut. Atletico Madrid is set to face Villarreal on Monday, adding to the excitement of the opening weekend in La Liga.