Mallorca vs FC Barcelona: Flick's team starts the title defense in LaLiga

The wait to see the FC Barcelona back in action for points has ended. This Saturday, from 7:30 p.m. at Son Moix, the team led by Hansi Flick debuts in LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26 against Jagoba Arrasate's Mallorca. The 'culés' begin the defense of the title with their sights set on revalidating the national treble and going for the Champions League.

After a fantastic 24/25 season, where Barça crushed Real Madrid in the head-to-head in La Liga, Copa and Supercopa, the team begins its journey in the new season with some new faces and the intact base of the squad that dominated Spanish football with an iron fist the previous year.

With Lamine Yamal consolidated as a franchise player and the best footballer in the world today, Barça aspires to win everything in 2026. The first step will be to defeat Mallorca, a rival with many doubts in the formation of its starting XI, but always competitive.

Doubts, certainties and possible surprises of Flick's Barça against Mallorca

Barça, on the other hand, arrives in great footballing form for the league premiere. The 'azulgrana' team closed the preseason with full of victories in its four summer friendlies. Three on the Asian tour and the 'manita' against the Italian Como in the Gamper. The balance was 20 goals in favor and only 4 against, maintaining the vertical, offensive and forceful game that was key to success in 24/25.

Lamine, with 4 goals, was the 'Pichichi' of the preseason and aims to become the leader of the new Barça. The player from Mataró, now with the '10' on his back, will seek to start LaLiga by scoring for the first time in his short career. In principle, the 18-year-old winger should share the offensive trident with Raphinha and Marcus Rashford, as long as the Englishman is registered in time.

The club has room to register players until the delegate hands over the list of starters and substitutes to the main referee. Usually, this occurs about an hour before the start of the match. Thanks to the millions entered by the transfer of Francisco Trincao (Sporting CP paid 11 million for his card), it is likely that the '14' will be registered on Saturday.

If Hansi Flick prefers not to count on 'Rashy' from the start, Ferran Torres should be the '9' for 'culés' in Mallorca. Robert Lewandowski is a confirmed absence due to muscular problems, the only absence due to injury for the 'culés' in their league premiere.

As things stand, it is likely that Barça will take to Son Moix with Joan García in goal; Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde on the flanks; Ronald Araujo in the center of defense alongside Pau Cubarsí and Frenkie de Jong as pivot. Pedri and Fermín López should complete the midfield, with Lamine and Raphinha as wingers and Rashford or Ferran as area reference.

• 📋 Squad list: Barcelona's squad list for the match: SEE

FC Barcelona results in the 2025 preseason

1. 🟢Vissel Kobe 1-3 FC Barcelona (in Japan)
2. 🟢FC Seoul 3-7 FC Barcelona (in Korea)
3. 🟢Daegu FC 0-5 FC Barcelona (in Korea)
4. 🟢FC Barcelona 5-0 Como 1907 (Joan Gamper Trophy)

Mallorca debuts in LaLiga with many doubts in its lineup

Mallorca, on the other hand, starts the 25/26 in full transition. Jagoba Arrasate's team will soon suffer the losses of Pablo Maffeo, Cyle Larin and Dani Luna, while Iván Cuéllar and Samú Costa will be out due to injury on Saturday. The 'bermellón' team signed Pablo Torre this summer, but still has several gaps to fill in defense and attack.

During the preseason, the Balearic Islanders played six friendlies, with a balance of four wins, one draw and one defeat. Three of their victories were against lower-ranked rivals, including Sant Andreu (1-0) and Poblense (2-0), from the Segunda RFEF, along with Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC from the United Arab Emirates (2-1).

The 'rojinegros' were thrashed by Lyon in Austria (0-4), drew against Parma (1-1) and beat Hamburg (2-0) in the Ciudad de Palma Trophy last Saturday to close their summer preparation. Mallorca comes from finishing last season in tenth place and its objective, again, will be to maintain the category without difficulties.

• ℹ️ Lineups: the possible starting XIs of FC Barcelona and Mallorca: SEE

RCD Mallorca results in the 2025 preseason

1. 🟢RCD Mallorca 1-0 Sant Andreu (Palma)
2. 🟢RCD Mallorca 2-1 Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC (Austria)
3. 🔴Olympique Lyon 4-0 RCD Mallorca (Austria)
4. 🟡Parma 1-1 RCD Mallorca (Austria)
5. 🟢Poblense 0-2 RCD Mallorca (Palma)
6. 🟢RCD Mallorca 2-0 Hamburg (Trofeu Ciutat de Palma)

Barça seeks to extend its dominance in Son Moix

For FC Barcelona, the visit to Son Moix has been synonymous with good results in the recent past. The 'bermellón' team has not managed to defeat the 'culés' since the 08/09 season (2-1), the latter an inconsequential match because the Catalans had already secured the league title.

In their last five visits, Barça has four wins and one draw (2-2 in 23/24). The last precedent was the 'manita' of the previous season (1-5), a match where Raphinha (double), Ferran, Frenkie and Pau Víctor scored for Barça.

The history, by La Liga, largely favors the 'azulgranas', with 42 wins, 13 losses and 11 draws in 66 matches. In Palma, Mallorca has only won in 10 of its 33 presentations against the Catalans, with 19 defeats and 4 draws. Will Hansi Flick's team be able to debut in 25/26 with a thrashing?

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