Spanish champions Barcelona kicked off their Liga season with a dominant 3-0 victory over Mallorca on Saturday, playing against nine men for nearly an hour.
Did Barcelona’s performance impress their coach? Coach Hansi Flick expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s effort, stating they only operated at “50%” despite the numerical advantage.
Flick unimpressed by team’s ‘50%’ effort despite numerical advantage
Mallorca, reduced to nine men by two red cards, couldn’t contain Barcelona. Yet, coach Hansi Flick was far from pleased with his team’s second-half display.
“They’re three important points, but I didn’t like the match,” Flick told broadcaster Movistar. He added, “After going two goals up and following Mallorca’s two red cards, I think the team only gave 50% and I didn’t like that. Playing at 50 or 60% is not possible against nine players.”
Barcelona took an early lead in the seventh minute. Lamine Yamal, a Ballon d’Or nominee, delivered a cross that Raphinha headed home.
The second goal came in the 23rd minute, also involving Yamal. His shot was deflected by Mallorca defender Antonio Raillo, who subsequently fell. As play continued and Mallorca failed to clear, Ferran Torres seized the opportunity, firing home from the edge of the box.
Flick addressed the controversy surrounding the second goal in English during the post-match press conference. “If I would be on the other side of the decision, I also would be not happy, but I always say to my team until the referee stops the match we have to continue,” he explained. “The referee didn’t stop the match, so there you go. That they are unhappy with that decision, I can also imagine.”
Mallorca’s Manu Morlanes was one of two players booked for dissent, vocally questioning the referee’s decision to let the play continue. Morlanes later received a second yellow card for a foul on Yamal, leading to his dismissal.
The first half saw further disruption for Mallorca. In the 39th minute, striker Vedat Muriqi received a red card for a high boot that caught debutant goalkeeper Joan Garcia on the cheek.
Barcelona comfortably managed the second half. Summer loan signing Marcus Rashford, whose registration was cleared just hours before, made his Liga debut for the Catalan club.
In the dying moments of injury time, Yamal sealed the victory with a spectacular goal. Picking up the ball on the right, he danced past three defenders before curling a left-footed shot into the top corner.
“He surprises you every day. He’s a spectacular player,” Flick commented on Yamal’s performance.
In other Liga matches, Valencia drew 1-1 at home against Real Sociedad, with Diego Lopez scoring for Valencia in the 57th minute and Takefusa Kubo equalizing three minutes later. In Vitoria, Alaves secured a 2-1 win over newly promoted Levante thanks to an added-time goal from Argentine center-back Facundo Tenaglia.
Atletico Madrid is set to begin their campaign on Sunday at home against Sevilla. Real Madrid will close out the opening round on Tuesday versus Osasuna.
On Friday, Jorge de Frutos opened the scoring for the new La Liga season, propelling Rayo Vallecano to a 3-1 victory over a 10-man Girona. Real Oviedo’s return to top-flight football after a 24-year absence started with a 2-0 defeat at Villarreal.
- Barcelona defeated Mallorca 3-0 in their opening Liga match on Saturday.
- Mallorca played with nine men for nearly an hour due to two red cards.
- Coach Hansi Flick was critical of his team’s performance, despite the win.
- Lamine Yamal was instrumental, providing an assist and scoring a late goal.
- Other weekend results included Valencia’s draw with Real Sociedad and Alaves’ win over Levante.
