The 2024-25 La Liga season kicks off tomorrow with an exciting clash between Real Madrid and Mallorca. RMA starts the new La Liga season against Mallorca, aiming to build on their recent success and strong squad. Mallorca, with their solid unbeaten run, will face their toughest challenge yet as they look to make a statement against the defending giants. This match marks a significant debut for Kylian Mbappé with Real Madrid, as he takes the field for the first time in the league with his new club. Fresh off their UEFA Super Cup triumph just three days ago, Los Merengues is starting the season with a win and is eager to set the tone for what promises to be a long and competitive campaign.
Fans are eagerly anticipating a hot match as both teams look forward to clashing on the pitch to build on their success and make a statement right from the start.
Team Overview
Real Madrid kicked off their new season on a high note by defeating Atalanta 2-0 in the UEFA Super Cup. Mbappé made a strong debut with a goal, while both Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham contributed an assist. With such a talented squad, Real Madrid is well-equipped to handle Mallorca with fewer challenges. Moreover, it remains to be seen if Endrick, who was not involved in the match against Atalanta, will see any action this weekend.
For Vinícius, this La Liga season is very important because it could help him win the Ballon d'Or. As one of the top favorites for the award, a great season can definitely get him closer to the award and give him the title of the world’s best player.
Key Players: Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Luka Modrić.
Mallorca comes into the new La Liga season with a strong unbeaten streak, having played well in their recent games. They’ll face a tough test against Real Madrid and will need to do their best to keep their good run going. Mallorca enjoyed a strong pre-season, winning six and drawing one of their seven friendly matches. However, they only faced one team of comparable strength, which resulted in a draw. Given their solid preparation and the support of their home fans, Mallorca should be able to generate some scoring opportunities against Real Madrid who has made their squad stronger with the additions of Endrick and Mbappé. Mallorca’s unbeaten run of seven matches is impressive, but they haven’t played against teams as strong as Real Madrid. Given the quality of their upcoming opponent, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to maintain their streak against such tough competition.
Key Players: Johan Mojica, Takuma Asano, Mateu Morey.
2023-24 Team Stats & Insights
As ESPN reports, the team stats can serve as key indicators for the match.
Goals Scored: 87 (1st in La Liga)
Goals Conceded: 26 (1st in La Liga)
Goal Differential: +61 (1st in La Liga)
Goals Scored: 33 (17th in La Liga)
Goals Conceded: 44 (5th in La Liga)
Goal Differential: -11 (12th in La Liga)
Prediction
According to EasyOdds, in their last three matches, Mallorca had a 1-1 draw with Osasuna, followed by a 2-2 draw with Almeria, and then secured a 1-2 victory over Getafe. At home in their previous six La Liga matches, Mallorca managed to win three and draw one, but they also faced two defeats. During this stretch, they scored five goals and conceded four.
Real Madrid appears ready to face any challenge, having recently drawn 0-0 with Real Betis and then won 2-0 against Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta. They had a strong away record last season, winning four of their six La Liga matches, drawing two, and not losing any. They scored 16 goals and conceded 8.
As the defending champions, given their current form and recent performances, Los Blancos are expected to win the match and defeat Mallorca. With their strong squad, including new signings like Kylian Mbappé, and their impressive pre-season and recent victories, Real Madrid looks well-positioned to secure a comfortable win. A reasonable prediction would be a 3-1 victory for Real Madrid, reflecting their attacking power and solid defense.
Where to watch
Date: Sunday, August 18, 2024
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Venue: Visit Mallorca Estadi
TV: ESPN+
