Barcelona Dominates at Mallorca but Coach Hansi Flick Critiques Performance

FC Barcelona’s Season Opener

In their season opener of LaLiga, FC Barcelona secured a 3-0 victory against a depleted Mallorca side, but coach Hansi Flick expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s performance despite the three points earned. The match took place on Saturday as Barcelona began their title defense at Mallorca, who were reduced to nine players following two red cards within a short span in the first half.

Match Highlights

Barcelona established an early lead with goals from Raphinha and Ferran Torres, but the game took a decisive turn when Mallorca’s Manu Morlanes received his second yellow card, followed by Vedat Muriqi being sent off shortly after for a foul on Barça goalkeeper Joan García. This left the hosts fighting to hold their ground with just nine players for over half of the match.

Coach’s Reflections

Flick noted that after gaining a two-goal advantage and facing a shorthanded opponent, his team seemed to fall into a lull, remarking, “I didn’t like the match. It’s three important points, but I wasn’t satisfied with our performance. Once we were up by two goals, we played at only 50 percent capacity. We have the ability to do much better.”

The coach emphasized the need for intensity and control, stating, “It’s unacceptable to play at half-speed against nine players. Our pace must improve; we need to focus on maintaining control throughout the game and add more goals.”

Key Moments

Raphinha opened the scoring just seven minutes in, capitalizing on a well-placed cross from young talent Lamine Yamal. Controversy arose with Barcelona’s second goal when Torres scored after the Mallorca defense temporarily halted play due to an injury to Antonio Raíllo, but the referee allowed the play to continue.

Flick commented on the situation, reflecting, “We must keep playing until the referee signals a stoppage. It was the official’s decision, and we must respect it. If the roles were reversed, I would certainly be unhappy. However, the team must remain focused until they hear the whistle.”

After the expulsions of Morlanes and Muriqi, Yamal capped off Barcelona’s victory with a stunning strike in injury time, marking the beginning of his campaign on a high note. Flick praised Yamal’s enthusiasm and skill, saying, “He is special, and everyone is taking notice. His commitment to the game is remarkable, and he consistently looks to drive forward.”