Defending champion Real Madrid could only manage a 1-1 draw at Mallorca in Kylian Mbappé’s first Spanish league match on Sunday.
In his second game with Madrid after his midweek debut, Mbappé did not score. He had previously scored in Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti used the same lineup that won against Atalanta, with Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, and Mbappé leading the attack.
“They change position from time to time,” Ancelotti said about Vinicius and Mbappé. “Sometimes Mbappé plays more centrally and sometimes one of the two has to take this flank, without a specific plan. It depends on how they feel about it.”
Rodrygo scored for Madrid 13 minutes into the match, but Mallorca equalized with a goal from Vedat Muriqi in the 53rd minute.
“We got off to a good start, taking the lead and then had a chance to score a second goal,” Ancelotti said. “We didn’t find balance in the second half. We could have lost because there was no balance at the back.
It wasn’t a good game. We need to defend better. We’re a very attacking team, but defensive balance is a crucial factor.”
Madrid defender Ferland Mendy was sent off late in the second half for a foul on Muriqi.
“I don’t want to make excuses for anything, but we just need to do better and with a better attitude,” Ancelotti said. “We can learn a lot from this match. It’s clear where our problems might come from.”
Rafael Nadal, who is from Mallorca, was among the spectators at the Son Moix Stadium.
Mallorca’s players gave a guard of honor to the Super Cup winners, applauding the Madrid team as they entered the field before the game.
