Barcelona’s historical record against Mallorca is particularly strong. The Blaugrana have not lost away to Mallorca in LaLiga since the 2008/09 season under Pep Guardiola, and in their last four visits, they have secured three wins and a draw. Their most recent encounter in Mallorca saw Barcelona cruise to a convincing 5-1 victory, underlining the gulf in quality between the two squads. The head-to-head record over the last five meetings reads four wins and a draw in favor of FC Barcelona, suggesting another positive result is on the cards for the visitors (Mallorca vs. Barcelona: Preview, Prediction and Lineups).
Both teams head into this fixture in good preseason form. Mallorca have enjoyed a solid summer, with four wins out of six matches, including recent victories over Hamburg and Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC. Arrasate’s side have proven difficult to break down, but their attack will once again depend on the prolific Vedat Muriqi, who netted seven league goals last term. Notably, La Masia graduate Pablo Torre is set to make his official debut for Mallorca, adding an intriguing subplot as he faces his former club.
On the other side, Barcelona’s preseason has been nothing short of spectacular, with the team racking up 20 goals in four matches. Lamine Yamal, who scored four times during preseason, is expected to be a key figure in attack, while Ferran Torres may lead the line with Robert Lewandowski still recovering from a hamstring issue. The squad, named by Hansi Flick, features new additions Joan García and Marcus Rashford, who were registered just ahead of kickoff, ensuring squad depth for the long season ahead (FC Barcelona squad for the trip to Mallorca).
Tactically, both managers are expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 system. Mallorca’s probable lineup includes Román in goal and Muriqi spearheading the attack, with support from Darder and Torre. Barcelona are likely to start with García between the posts, a back line featuring Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí, and Balde, and a midfield anchored by De Jong and Pedri. Yamal, Fermín, and Raphinha are set to provide creativity behind Torres.
Looking at both form and squad strength, the odds heavily favor Barcelona to secure an opening day win. The defending champions’ attacking depth and positive recent history at Son Moix suggest they will make a statement in their title defense. Expert predictions, including those from ESPN, expect a comfortable victory for Flick’s men, with a likely scoreline of Mallorca 0–3 Barcelona. All eyes will be on Lamine Yamal and Vedat Muriqi as they lead their respective lines in what promises to be an exciting start to the new LaLiga season.