Real Madrid fall into a draw trap against Mallorca

Real Madrid, led by its new French star Kylian Mbappe, began its title defense with a disappointing 1-1 draw against host Real Mallorca in the opening round of the Spanish Football League on Sunday.

After Brazilian Rodrygo opened the scoring for Real Madrid, who won the European Super Cup title for a record sixth time this week at the expense of Italian Atalanta 2-0 in Warsaw, Kosovar Vedat Muriqi was able to equalize the score and snatch a valuable point for the home team (53).

Similar to the Atalanta match, Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti started Mbappe in his first ever match in the Spanish League after his long-awaited transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

Mbappe had an amazing start with the royal team when he scored one of his team's two goals against Atalanta, at the same time winning his first title with Merengue.

Contrary to expectations, Mallorca started the match rushing forward and almost scored against Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after Portuguese Samu Costa broke through from the right side and shot a curved ball that Courtois saved beautifully in the (6) minute.

But Real quickly took control when Brazilian Vinicius Junior passed the ball with the heel of his foot to his compatriot Rodrigo, who did not hesitate to shoot a wonderful ball into Mallorca's net in the (13) minute.

Real Madrid had another chance from a long shot by German Antonio Rudiger in the (21) minute.

In relative calm, Daniel Rodriguez's header and then Takuma Asano's shot passed the Madrid giants safely a few minutes before the end of the first half.

Mallorca continued its upward performance and managed to impose a tie after a corner kick taken by Rodriguez and followed by Muriqui with a header into the goal in the (53) minute.

Muriqui himself almost gave the home team a resounding lead over Real in the (57) minute, but Courtois was on the lookout.

Real Madrid woke up from their coma and the crossbar prevented Mbappe from scoring his first goal in La Liga in the (62) minute after a pass from the Englishman Jude Bellingham.

Mbappe again missed a chance to score after another perfect pass from Bellingham before the Frenchman shot a low ball in the (71) minute that was blocked by Mallorca's goalkeeper.

The match witnessed, in its final moments, the expulsion of the Frenchman Ferland Mendy from Real's side in the (90+7) minute.

In another match, Real Sociedad stumbled at home against Rayo Vallecano and lost 1-2 in the same round.

Source: Yemen Youth Net + AFP