Published: 09:30, August 19, 2024
Real Madrid stars crash to earth in dull draw at Mallorca
By Reuters
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe (center) prepares to shoot on goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Mallorca and Real Madrid at the Son Moix Stadium in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on Aug 18, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

Real Madrid got their LaLiga title defense off to a limp start as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Mallorca, with Vedat Muriqi's second-half header canceling out Rodrygo's early strike and spoiling Kylian Mbappe's eagerly awaited debut on Sunday.

Real's so-called "New Galacticos" with Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr headlining a stellar squad came crashing back to earth with a dreary performance at a raucous Son Moix.

Real Madrid started well and took the lead thanks to a fine curling strike by Brazilian forward Rodrygo assisted by a back-heeled pass from his countryman Vinicius Jr in the 13th minute.

However, Mallorca started to create some chances in counter-attacks as a toothless Real grew frustrated, dominating possession but lacking ideas up front.

Real Madrid's English midfielder #05 Jude Bellingham heads the ball during the Spanish league football match between RCD Mallorca and Real Madrid CF at the Mallorca Son Moix stadium in Palma de Mallorca on Aug 18, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

With Mbappe and Bellingham nowhere to be found, Vinicius was arguably Real's only weapon against a disciplined Mallorca defense. But the Brazilian ended up losing his cool and was taunted by the local fans every time he touched the ball.

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The Son Moix stadium has been a tough place for Vinicius, who in February 2023 was racially abused by the local supporters there.

On Sunday, he had several heated exchanges with rivals and was reprimanded by the referee after staring into the stands as if daring fans to shout at him all the more.

Mallorca's Vedat Muriqi (center right) scores his side's first goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Mallorca and Real Madrid at the Son Moix Stadium in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on Aug 18, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made three fine saves to keep the visitor's lead, but there was nothing he could do to Muriqi powerful header from a corner in the 53rd minute that level for the locals.

Vinicius's struggles and Mallorca's equalizer frustrated Real thereafter. They only really threatened twice with similar moves by Mbappe, who sprinted up the left channel in counter-attacks but had his angled strikes denied by an inspired Dominik Greif in goal for Mallorca.

Real ended the match with 10-men after defender Ferland Mendy was shown a straight red for a sliding tackle deep into added time.

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One day after a depleted Barca fought back to win 2-1 at Valencia despite missing several key starters, a star-studded Real Madrid labored away to little avail, suggesting they may need to work harder than they thought to fit Mbappe into their squad.