Kylian Mbappe’s La Liga debut ended in disappointment as Real Madrid dropped points in their opening match against Mallorca. After a stellar performance in the UEFA Super Cup 2024, where Mbappe helped Real Madrid defeat Atalanta, he was unable to replicate that form in the league.

In the La Liga opener, coach Carlo Ancelotti fielded a strong lineup with Mbappe starting as the central striker, supported by Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr., and Rodrygo. Real Madrid got off to a promising start with an early goal from Rodrygo, but they failed to capitalize on their advantage. In the second half, their attack stagnated, and Mallorca managed to equalize, ending the match in a 1-1 draw.

While Mbappe’s individual performance was not poor—he had two shots on target (50%), dribbled past opponents successfully 3 out of 4 times, and completed 25 out of 31 passes (81%)—his tendency to drift left and his frequent clashes with Vinicius disrupted the team’s rhythm.

Following the match, Ancelotti addressed the situation, stating he had no plans to change Mbappe’s or Vinicius’s positions, as their movements on the field were fluid and dependent on their own preferences. Ancelotti noted, “No, I haven’t planned any changes. Sometimes they switch positions among themselves. The left wing can be occupied by either Vinicius or Mbappe depending on their feel for the game.”

Ancelotti also commented on Real Madrid’s lack of balance, saying, “We started well, but it wasn’t a great match. We need to defend better. We need balance. While our attack is strong, it has left our defense exposed.”