Real Madrid briefing: Mbappe frustrated on La Liga debut as Rodrygo makes his point

Real Madrid started their title defence with a 1-1 draw against Mallorca in the opening game of the season. Despite Rodrygo opening the scoring in the first half, Mallorca equalized through Vedat Muriqi’s powerful header from a corner. Madrid dominated possession but couldn’t convert their chances. The frustration was evident as Ferland Mendy received a straight red card in stoppage time. Manager Carlo Ancelotti described the result as “correct” and highlighted the learning opportunities for the team. Kylian Mbappe, making his La Liga debut, had some promising moments but was denied by Mallorca’s goalkeeper twice in the second half. Overall, it was a disappointing result for Madrid.