Kylian Mbappe’s La Liga Debut Ends in Disappointment as Real Madrid Draws with Real Mallorca
MADRID: French football star Kylian Mbappe endured a frustrating La Liga debut with Real Madrid on Sunday, as the team was held to a 1-1 draw by Real Mallorca at Son Moix stadium. Despite a star-studded lineup, Madrid struggled to secure a win, leaving the new arrival disappointed.
The match saw Madrid initially take the lead with an early goal from Rodrygo. However, Mallorca’s defense held firm, and the hosts equalized in the second half through Vedat Muriqi’s impressive header. The draw marked a challenging start for Mbappe in Spain’s top flight, who was unable to find the back of the net after a promising performance in the UEFA Super Cup.
Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, was candid about his team’s performance, citing a lack of balance and defensive lapses as key issues. “We went ahead, we had chances to score the second, and then in the second half we lacked balance,” Ancelotti said. “We conceded counter-attacks, it was not a good game, it was quite clear that we need to defend better and have better balance on the pitch.”
Ancelotti had kept the same starting lineup that triumphed over Atalanta to win the UEFA Super Cup earlier in the week, with Jude Bellingham in midfield supporting the attacking trio of Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo. Mbappe had scored in that match, but his debut in La Liga was less fruitful.
Despite Madrid’s dominance for stretches of the game, they were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. Mbappe, in particular, had a chance to extend Madrid’s lead but sent an effort wide. The frustration was palpable as the game wore on, and Madrid’s inability to secure a victory left fans and pundits critical.
Ancelotti expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s effort, noting the need for improved performance and attitude. “We have to do better, with more attitude,” the Italian coach continued. “This game can serve us to learn a lot from, it’s a game where it was quite clear where we had a problem. Mallorca had a very good game in a defensive sense, better than us.”
The lackluster performance drew harsh criticism from fans, with some taking to social media to express their displeasure. On X (formerly Twitter), one fan labeled Mbappe as a “biblical stinker,” while another criticized the team’s overall display, calling it a “disgraceful shambolic performance.”
The reaction underscores the high expectations surrounding Mbappe and Real Madrid, who are expected to deliver consistently given their squad’s quality. The team will need to regroup and address the issues highlighted by Ancelotti as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures.
Mbappe’s debut serves as a reminder of the challenges that come with adapting to a new league and team. Despite the setback, the French forward and his new club will be aiming to bounce back in their next match and deliver performances that meet the lofty standards set for them.
As Real Madrid looks to turn their fortunes around, the focus will be on refining their tactics and improving their defensive stability, ensuring that future matches do not slip away as this one did.
