Barcelona started the protection of its La Liga title with a snug 3-0 win at Mallorca, scoring early and profiting from two first-half crimson playing cards for the hosts on Saturday.
Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, who led Barcelona’s prolific assault final season, wanted solely seven minutes to impress once more. Yamal’s curling cross discovered Raphinha by the far submit and the Brazil ahead headed in from shut vary.
Ferran Torres’ shot from outdoors the realm within the twenty third was a purpose that drew complaints by Mallorca as a result of considered one of its gamers was on the bottom after being hit by the ball within the head within the buildup.
Some Mallorca gamers stopped enjoying after their teammate went down, however the referee allowed play to proceed. Mallorca instantly complained after Ferran scored.
The hosts went a person down 10 minutes later when Manu Morlanes was despatched off for a second yellow card for fouling Yamal on the run. His first yellow was for protesting Barcelona’s second purpose.
The second crimson card within the thirty ninth got here from Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi hitting the pinnacle of Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia along with his left foot whereas reaching up for a excessive ball. The referee modified the cardboard from yellow to crimson after a video overview.
Yamal made it 3-0 in second half stoppage time by hitting the highest nook.
Barcelona, which received the league final season after scoring 102 objectives, was with out veteran striker Robert Lewandowski due to an harm. Newly signed ahead Marcus Rashford went in instead within the 69th.
Garcia did not need to work a lot on his Barcelona debut after being signed within the offseason on a switch from metropolis rival Espanyol.
Common beginning goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is out after present process decrease again surgical procedure, and García began forward of Wojciech Szczesny and Inaki Pena, who changed Ter Stegen final season.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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