Kylian Mbappe was able to make his debut in the Spanish League this Sunday with the Real Madrid shirt but he was unable to do so with a victory. The reigning champion only managed to draw 1-1 in their visit to Mallorca on the first matchday.
Like four days earlier in the European Super Cup, Mbappe started but this time he was unable to score. The only goal for his team was scored by the Brazilian Rodrygo in the 13th minute, with a cross-shot into the area after receiving a back-heel assist from his compatriot Vinicius Jr.
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Mallorca’s goal came in the 53rd minute, when Kosovo’s Vedat Muriqi, named the match’s most valuable player, headed into the net from a corner kick taken by Dani Rodriguez.
Mallorca even had chances to win, especially with a shot from Antonio Sanchez in the 88th minute that went over the crossbar.
Real Madrid also finished with ten men after the expulsion in the final moments (90+6) of Frenchman Ferland Mendy for a violent tackle on Muriqi.
With this draw, Real Madrid starts with just one point, two behind their eternal rivals, FC Barcelona, who won 2-1 at Valencia on Saturday.
The draw at Son Moix dampened the euphoria with which Real Madrid had started this season after winning the European Super Cup 2-0 over Atalanta on Wednesday, in a match where Mbappe also scored his first goal in the shirt of the club he supported as a child.
The French star was inevitably the center of attention on Sunday, and every gesture, every action, and every occasion was closely followed by cameras, photographers, and fans.
Mbappe was involved in the play that led to his team’s goal, touching the ball in the area before Vini passed it to Rodrygo.
But the Frenchman wanted more and tried at various times during the match. In the 24th minute, a shot on purpose went to the side of the opponent’s goal.
In the second half, Slovakia’s goalkeeper Dominik Greif was a wall for Mbappe, whose shots in the 61st and 69th minutes were blocked by the home side’s goalkeeper. In the 70th minute, the French captain sent another of his attempts too high.
Before the match, Mallorca paid tribute to one of its local idols, Rudy Fernandez, who recently retired as a basketball player after two decades of success and has become the only player in his sport to participate in six Olympic Games in Paris 2024.
The Balearic Club presented the athlete with a framed team shirt with the number 5 and the name “Rudy” on the back.
In the other match on Sunday in the Spanish League, Rayo Vallecano surprised by winning 2-1 at Real Sociedad.
The Basque team, sixth last season and who will play in the Europa League this year, were outdone by second-half goals from Jorge De Frutos (minute 67) and Sergio Camello (84). Martin Zubimendi’s goal in the 90+8 only served to disguise Real’s setback in front of their fans.
Camello thus extended his great form at the start of the league after having been the unexpected hero of the Spanish Olympic team, with two goals in extra time to help his team beat the hosts France 5-3 in the final at the Parc des Princes.
After that Olympic gold, the 23-year-old from Madrid started with a goal that allowed Rayo to start in the best way, with a victory in a traditionally difficult stadium.
The last two matches of the first matchday are on Monday. The clash between the newly promoted Valladolid and Espanyol, and above all, the visit of Atletico de Madrid to Villarreal.
