The curtain rises on a brand-new La Liga season as reigning contenders FC Barcelona travel to the Balearic Islands for their first league fixture of the 2025/26 campaign against a tough and unpredictable RCD Mallorca side. The match, set to be played at the Estadi de Son Moix, is the first real test of Barcelona’s fresh energy, revamped squad, and championship ambitions.
A Confident Barça Arrives With High Expectations
After a hugely successful preseason tour, which included a trio of impressive victories across Asia and a 5-0 demolition of Italian side Como in the Joan Gamper Trophy, Xavi Hernandez and his players look poised to make a strong start to the season.
With a renewed sense of purpose and no Club World Cup distractions this summer, Barcelona’s squad appears rested, sharp, and focused. Preseason gave fans a glimpse of the depth and promise in this squad—with rising stars like Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, and Gavi all delivering standout performances.
However, the road to a perfect opening won’t be easy, especially given the team’s current injury list.
Barcelona’s Injury Concerns and Squad Situation
Barcelona face the opening clash without several key names:
- Unavailable:
- Marc-André ter Stegen (knee)
- Robert Lewandowski (muscle issue)
- Oriol Romeu
- Marc Bernal
- Doubtful:
- Joan Garcia
- Wojciech Szczesny (minor knock)
- Héctor Fort
- Gerard Martín
- Marcus Rashford
- Roony Bardghji
Despite these setbacks, the squad’s depth offers Xavi flexibility. With James Trafford likely stepping in goal and options like Raphinha, João Félix, and Pedri available in attack, Barcelona still present a formidable threat going forward.
Mallorca’s Home Fortitude
Though they’re not among the title contenders, Mallorca have consistently proven themselves to be a thorn in the side of Spain’s elite. Last season, their disciplined, defense-first strategy helped them hold their ground at home, and they’ll look to frustrate Barça by sitting deep, closing spaces, and hitting on the counterattack.
Manager Javier Aguirre is likely to stick to his tried-and-true tactics, and though they enter the match with minimal injury concerns—Samú Costa remains a doubt—they’ll be relying on tactical organization and physical intensity to stay in the contest.
Match Information
- 📅 Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025
- ⏰ Kick-Off Times:
- 7:30pm CET (Barcelona)
- 6:30pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria)
- 1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT (USA)
- 11:00pm IST (India)
- 🏟 Venue: Estadi de Son Moix, Palma de Mallorca
- ⚖️ Referee: José Luis Munuera
- 🎥 VAR: Jorge Figueroa
- 📺 Where to Watch:
- USA: ESPN2 (TV), ESPN+ (Streaming)
- UK: Premier Sports 2, LaLigaTV
- Nigeria: SuperSport
- India: FanCode
- Spain: Movistar & Movistar+
What to Expect
Expect Barcelona to dominate possession and look to break through Mallorca’s low defensive block. With the creativity of Pedri and the pace of Lamine Yamal or João Félix, the Catalan giants will aim to strike early and set the tone for the season.
Mallorca, however, will be dangerous on the break and from set pieces. If they manage to stay compact and limit spaces in midfield, they could cause frustration for a Barcelona team still adjusting to missing key players like Lewandowski and ter Stegen.
Prediction
While Mallorca will likely stay defensively disciplined, Barcelona’s depth, momentum, and superior technical ability should eventually make the difference.
Predicted Score: Mallorca 0–2 Barcelona
