Mbappe Makes La Liga Debut as Real Madrid Draw with Mallorca.
Kylian Mbappe made his much-anticipated La Liga debut as defending champions Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Mallorca on the opening day of the season.
After scoring in Real Madrid’s 2-0 UEFA Super Cup victory over Atalanta earlier in the week, the France captain was keen to make an impact in his first domestic outing since his high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain. However, despite several promising moments, Mbappe was unable to find the back of the net in his league debut.
Real Madrid took the lead in the first half through a moment of brilliance from Rodrygo. The Brazilian forward curled in a stunning opener after a clever backheel assist from Vinicius Jr. The goal highlighted the flair and creativity within Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, raising hopes of a winning start to the season.
However, Mallorca responded strongly, with Vedat Muriqi equalising in the second half. The striker powered home a header from Dani Rodriguez’s precise cross, bringing the visitors level and setting up a tense finale at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid’s evening was further complicated when defender Ferland Mendy received a red card deep into injury time for a reckless challenge on Muriqi, reducing the hosts to ten men.
Despite his best efforts, Mbappe, PSG’s all-time top scorer and a six-time Ligue 1 Golden Boot winner, was unable to open his La Liga account. The 25-year-old World Cup winner came close on several occasions, including a shot that narrowly missed the target and a powerful strike that forced Mallorca’s goalkeeper, Dominik Greif, into a crucial save.
This match marked the first time Mbappe has played a league fixture outside of France, following his successful stint with AS Monaco and PSG. While the debut did not end in victory, his presence on the field showcased the attacking potential he brings to Real Madrid’s pursuit of domestic and European glory this season.
