Real Madrid Stars Criticized for Draw

Real Madrid's revamped squad, featuring star forward Kylian Mbappe, has faced scrutiny following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Mallorca in their LaLiga season opener. Despite high expectations, the team's attacking trio, including Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo, struggled to make an impact, prompting calls for improvement. Mbappe, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain, was notably ineffective in his central role, while Vinicius and Rodrygo failed to capitalize on their positions. Spanish newspaper Marca highlighted the team's attacking woes, urging the forwards to sharpen their focus. The publication's analysis revealed that Bellingham, Mbappe, Vinicius, and Rodrygo were not effectively utilizing their positions, with Bellingham drifting wide and Mbappe operating far from his preferred No. 9 role. This misalignment hindered their ability to stretch Mallorca's defense, raising concerns about the team's tactical setup. Rodrygo initially gave Madrid the lead in the 13th minute, but Mallorca equalized through Vedat Muriqi shortly after halftime. The match ended on a sour note for Madrid as defender Ferland Mendy received a red card in stoppage time, leaving the team with ten men. In the aftermath, coach Carlo Ancelotti emphasized the need for collective effort, suggesting that the issues may not solely rest with the strikers but could also involve the defenders and midfielders. The team will need to regroup quickly as they aim to defend their title amidst growing pressure.