FC Barcelona made a positive start to LaLiga campaign following a 3-0 victory over Real Mallorca on Saturday evening.
The Blaugrana gave an official debut to new signing Joan Garcia in goal, while high-profile loan signing Marcus Rashford started on the bench.
Barca got up and running on eight minutes when last season’s top scorer Raphinha got on the end of a well-weighted cross by Lamine Yamal to head home his first goal of the campaign.
The home team looked for an instant response with numerous entries to the defensive-third of the Blaugrana, but the decisive touch from Takuma Asano and Vedat Muriqi was lacking.
However, Barcelona added to their tally when a scramble on the edge of the area saw Ferran Torres capitalise and rifle into the back of the net,
Mallorca were down to ten men just past the half-hour mark as Manu Morlanes received a second yellow for a lat challenge on Yamal.
It didn’t end there for the home team, who were reduced to nine men after Muriqi clattered into Garcia and had a yellow upgraded to a red card following consultation with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Barcelona still decided to turn to the bench ahead of the second period and introduced Dani Olmo in place of Fermin Lopez.
Olmo looked to get in on the act ten minutes after coming on and closed-in with a fine effort to the near post of the net, but Leo Roman was equal to the task.
Mallorca continued sitting back – offering little threat as the Blaugrana introduced Rashford for his debut and sacrificed Torres.
The reigning champions grabbed a third goal at the death when Yamal curled in the top corner after cutting in to the edge of the area.
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
