French football star Kylian Mbappé’s much-anticipated La Liga debut with Real Madrid ended in disappointment as the team was held to a 1-1 draw against Real Mallorca on Sunday. Despite the star-studded lineup, Madrid struggled to break down a resilient Mallorca side at the Son Moix Stadium, leaving fans and pundits questioning the team’s performance and Mbappé’s impact.
Mbappé, who joined Real Madrid after a high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), faced a tough challenge against Mallorca’s defense. The French forward was thwarted by an impressive performance from Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif, who denied him several opportunities to score. Real Madrid had taken an early lead thanks to a goal from Rodrygo, but their advantage was short-lived. Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi equalized in the second half with a towering header, leaving Madrid unable to reclaim the lead.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance, particularly their lack of balance and defensive stability in the second half. “We went ahead, we had chances to score the second, and then in the second half we lacked balance,” Ancelotti told reporters after the match. “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 fielded the same starting lineup that secured victory against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup earlier in the week, with Mbappé leading the attack alongside Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. Despite scoring in the Super Cup win, Mbappé was unable to replicate that success in his La Liga debut, leaving him visibly frustrated on the pitch.
The draw has sparked criticism on social media, with some fans voicing their disappointment in Mbappé’s performance. One fan described his debut as a “biblical stinker,” while another labeled it a “disgraceful shambolic performance.” The criticism highlights the high expectations surrounding the 25-year-old, who was seen as a key signing for Madrid’s aspirations in both domestic and European competitions.
Mbappé’s underwhelming debut has raised questions about his adaptation to Spanish football and Real Madrid’s ability to integrate him into their existing system. While it is still early in the season, the draw against Mallorca is a reminder that even the most talented players can face challenges when adjusting to a new league.
Ancelotti, however, remains optimistic that the team will learn from this match and improve in the coming weeks. “We have to do better, with more attitude,” Ancelotti stated. “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.”
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Mbappé and Real Madrid to see how they respond to this early setback. With the weight of expectations on his shoulders, Mbappé will be eager to make his mark in La Liga and help Madrid compete for the title. For now, though, his debut serves as a reminder that success in football is never guaranteed, no matter how talented the players on the pitch may be.
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