Barcelona secured a dramatic 3-0 win over struggling Mallorca, propelling the Catalan club to the top spot in La Liga. The match saw two of Mallorca’s players sent off, while the referee was heavily criticized for his questionable decisions.
Mallorca, who are now provisionally at the bottom of the standings, host Celta Vigo on Saturday in their second match of the season. Despite being behind in the table, the team’s position can change before the next round.
Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia was calm despite a pre-match injury and credited his team for managing the game under difficult circumstances. When asked about the dramatic nature of the match, Garcia said: “It wasn’t a normal game… We knew how to manage the game and the circumstances, and we are very content with the victory.”
Mallorca captain Raiolla expressed disappointment over the referee’s decisions, particularly the play-on signal that allowed Ferran to score. He stated, “The game should have been stopped. If that’s what the rule says, then the goal shouldn’t have stood.” The incident sparked a heated debate among players and fans, with some criticizing the referee for not explaining his decisions.
With seven more matches pending in the first round of fixtures, Barcelona’s lead could change before the next round. However, for now, they sit atop La Liga, with Manchester United and Arsenal facing off on Sunday in another highly anticipated clash.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/liveblog/2025/8/16/live-mallorca-vs-barcelona-la-liga