Defending La Liga champions Real Madrid will aim to get the ball rolling against RCD Mallorca on Sunday night.
Real Madrid will kick off their 2024/25 La Liga campaign with momentum on their side, fresh from lifting the UEFA Super Cup earlier this week. Los Blancos, the reigning Spanish champions, are set to face Mallorca at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix on Sunday night, looking to build on their success and start the domestic season in style.
Real Madrid enter this match as the defending champions, having finished the previous season 10 points clear of arch-rivals Barcelona. The team, under the stewardship of Carlo Ancelotti, dominated La Liga with an impressive 95 points from 38 matches, boasting the league’s best attacking and defensive records—87 goals scored and just 26 conceded. Their only defeat last season underlined their consistency, and they will aim to replicate that form as they begin their title defence.
Mallorca, on the other hand, had a more challenging 2023/24 season, finishing 15th, just seven points above the relegation zone. This upcoming campaign marks their fourth consecutive season in Spain’s top flight, their best run since 2013, but the Pirates are under new management with Jagoba Arrasate at the helm.
Arrasate, who joined after leaving Osasuna, faces the tough task of stabilizing Mallorca in La Liga and pushing them towards a more comfortable mid-table finish. The summer transfer window has seen Mallorca bring in three new faces: Johan Mojica from Villarreal, and free transfers Takuma Asano and Mateu Morey. However, they have also lost key player Predrag Rajkovic, who made a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League, leaving a significant gap in their defence.
Historically, Mallorca have struggled against Real Madrid, with their last win against Los Blancos in La Liga dating back to February 2023, a 1-0 triumph at home. However, Real Madrid won both encounters last season by the same 1-0 scoreline and will be heavy favourites to secure all three points once again.
Real Madrid’s pre-season had its ups and downs, with the team playing only three games—losses to AC Milan and Barcelona followed by a win against Chelsea. In the UEFA Super Cup, they took time to find their rhythm against Atalanta but eventually secured a 2-0 victory, with Kylian Mbappe scoring on his debut.
Mbappe’s addition, along with the talented Jude Bellingham and young Brazilian prodigy Endrick, has further strengthened an already formidable squad. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up for the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
RCD Mallorca
Mallorca will face Real Madrid without Javi Llabres, who is sidelined due to a muscular problem. But otherwise, the team is in good shape as they prepare for their opening match of the new La Liga season.
Under new manager Jagoba Arrasate, who is expected to introduce a three-man defence, the Pirates are poised to present a more solid and organized unit. Johan Mojica, who played under Arrasate while on loan at Osasuna last season, is set to make his debut for Mallorca in this match, adding experience and energy to the backline.
In the attacking third, Takuma Asano could also make his first start for the club, potentially partnering with Vedat Muriqi. Muriqi has been a key figure for Mallorca, and his presence will be vital if the home side are to challenge Real Madrid’s formidable defence.
The home side are expected to line up in a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Dominik Greif starting in goal, providing a solid presence between the posts. The three-man defence will consist of Siebe Van der Heyden on the right, Antonio Raillo as the central defender, and Jose Manuel Gonzalez on the left, forming a robust backline to counter Real Madrid’s attack.
In midfield, Pablo Maffeo will operate as the right wing-back, with Omar Mascarell and Dani Rodriguez occupying the central midfield roles, while Johan Mojica will provide width and defensive cover on the left as the left wing-back.
Sergi Darder will take up the attacking midfield role, linking up play and supporting the forwards. Up front, Vedat Muriqi and Takuma Asano will lead the attack, with Muriqi providing physicality and goal-scoring prowess, while Asano adds pace and creativity to the frontline.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Greif; Van der Hayden, Raillo, Gonzalez; Maffeo, Mascarell, D Rodriguez, Mojica; Darder; Muriqi, Asano
Real Madrid
Real Madrid will be without David Alaba as he continues his recovery from the ACL injury he sustained late last year, though there is hope that the Austrian defender will return before the end of 2024. Additionally, Eduardo Camavinga is sidelined after picking up a knee injury during Tuesday’s training session ahead of the UEFA Super Cup, ruling him out for at least six weeks.
Despite these absences, Carlo Ancelotti’s side came through their midweek Super Cup victory over Atalanta unscathed, allowing the manager to likely name an unchanged lineup for the La Liga opener against Mallorca. The attacking trio of Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Rodrygo is expected to start, bringing pace, skill, and a goal-scoring threat to Real Madrid’s forward line.
In defence, Eder Militao, now fully fit after recovering from a knee injury, should partner Antonio Rudiger at the heart of the backline, providing solidity and experience. Jude Bellingham, who excelled in a deeper midfield role during the Super Cup, is set to continue in that position, where his vision and ability to control the tempo will be crucial for Los Blancos.
Real Madrid are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Thibaut Courtois in goal, providing his usual commanding presence between the posts. The backline will feature Dani Carvajal at right-back, Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger forming a strong central defensive partnership. Ferland Mendy will occupy the left-back position.
In midfield, Federico Valverde will take up the right central midfield role, bringing energy and box-to-box capabilities, while Aurelien Tchouaméni will anchor the midfield in the defensive role, providing cover for the backline. Jude Bellingham is expected to push forward and link play between midfield and attack.
The front three will consist of Rodrygo on the right wing, Kylian Mbappe as the central forward, and Vinicius Junior on the left wing, combining pace, creativity, and goal-scoring prowess to lead Real Madrid’s attack.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr
Key Stats
- Mallorca have lost their last two La Liga matches against Real Madrid without scoring a goal. However, they have not gone three or more consecutive games without scoring against Los Blancos in the competition since 1998.
- Real Madrid have lost two of their last four visits to Mallorca in La Liga. This is in stark contrast to their previous 12 away games against the Balearics, where they only lost once, winning eight times and drawing three.
- Both Mallorca and Real Madrid have strong records in their opening games of the season. Mallorca has not lost their first game in any of the last eight La Liga campaigns (W4 D4), while Real Madrid has avoided defeat in their opening match for the last 15 seasons (W11 D4).
- Mallorca have not lost any of their last four La Liga matches (W2 D2). They could equal their longest unbeaten run in the top flight within the last decade (G5 W2 D3), a streak they last achieved in December 2023.
- Real Madrid are currently on their best unbeaten run in La Liga history, having not lost any of their last 32 games in the competition (W24 D8). This surpasses their previous best run of 30 games unbeaten, which occurred between May 1988 and April 1989 under coach Leo Beenhakker.
Player to Watch
Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe will undoubtedly be the player to watch in this game as he makes his much-anticipated La Liga debut for Real Madrid. The Frenchman’s arrival at Real Madrid has been one of the most talked-about transfers in recent history, and his debut in the Spanish top flight marks the beginning of a new chapter in his already illustrious career.
Mbappe has a knack for making an immediate impact, as evidenced by his goal on his debut for Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup victory against Atalanta. His ability to influence the game from the very start will be pivotal as Los Blancos seek to kick off their La Liga campaign with a win.
With Real Madrid missing key players like David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga, Mbappe’s role becomes even more important. His ability to create and finish chances will be vital in overcoming a Mallorca side that has shown resilience, particularly in their opening fixtures of previous seasons.
Prediction
RCD Mallorca 0-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid have both quality and momentum in their favour, and they will be expected to secure all three points. With Kylian Mbappe keen to make an instant impression, anything less than a comfortable win for the visitors will come as a surprise.
