LaLiga: Real Madrid vs Mallorca: What happened?

The reigning Spanish champions, Real Madrid, kicked off their La Liga campaign against RCD Mallorca in an entertaining fixture that didn't quite work in the favor of the European champions. Despite their persistence, Real Madrid was held to a draw, with Mallorca snatching a crucial point thanks to a header from Kosovan forward Vedat Muriqi. The result was widely perceived as a disappointment among Real Madrid supporters.

As anticipated, Real Madrid struggled to find the right balance to break through the low-block defense of Mallorca, as they have with many other Spanish teams. It came as no surprise to viewers that the game eventually concluded in a draw.

In addition to the absence of a controlling midfielder in the squad after Toni Kroos hung up his boots, Real Madrid also lacks aerial ability in the attacking third, which has poorly reflected on the scoreline.

In the previous season, Real Madrid had a crucial number of clutch goals from Spanish forward Joselu. Apart from the infamous cameo against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the UCL, he also scored the equalizer against Getafe with a header, in addition to the winner against Real Sociedad and the assist versus Celta Vigo, all through his aerial ability.

In the current lineup, the Spanish champions lack a serious aerial threat in the likes of Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe, and Rodrygo.

As noted in the previously , or as you might already know, the recommended way forward for Ancelotti would be to sacrifice one player in the current lineup—most likely Rodrygo or Aurelien Tchouameni—and bring in an additional midfielder in Luka Modric, Arda Guler, or Dani Ceballos. The ultimate aim is to restore balance to the team and improve overall performance.

An alternative strategy for striking balance in the team would be to deploy Jude Bellingham in the false 9 role, replacing Kylian Mbappe. With three defenders often pinned on the Frenchman, his dribbling and flair diminish against low-block teams in the Spanish league.

Shifting him to either flank and positioning their top scorer from the previous season in the most advanced role could prove beneficial. While Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe occupy the flanks, utilizing Arda Guler or Luka Modric in an advanced number 8 role will provide the proper balance and enhance the team’s finesse. The return of Eduardo Camavinga will also be a massive boost to the squad.

While there has been a significant overreaction from supporters after just the first game of the season, these issues were evident even before the season began for the champions. However, Real Madrid still remains in the capable hands of Carlo Ancelotti, who has always found a way out. If anyone can navigate these challenges, it will be the Italian.