Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
Barcelona begin their La Liga title defence with a trip to Mallorca — a fixture in which the champions will be overwhelming favourites. Hansi Flick will be without Robert Lewandowski through injury, meaning Ferran Torres is set to lead the line.
Mallorca
Mallorca’s squad has seen minimal changes over the summer, with the standout addition being Barcelona academy graduate Pablo Torre. The team impressed in friendlies against Poblença and Hamburg (both 2:0), but a 4:0 drubbing by Lyon exposed their vulnerabilities. Last season, the islanders massively overperformed defensively — conceding just 44 goals despite an expected goals against tally of 53.82 — and regression could hit them early in the new campaign.
Barcelona
Barcelona, meanwhile, scored a staggering 102 goals in 38 league games last term, converting virtually everything they created (99.47 xG). Summer arrivals include Eric García and Marcus Rashford, while the club have handed prodigy Lamine Yamal the iconic No.10 shirt. Pre-season form has been sharp, with 16 goals scored in their friendlies, including a 5:0 rout of a decent Como side on Sunday.
Mallorca vs Barcelona Prediction
Since May 2023, Mallorca have lost four of their five meetings with Barcelona, conceding 12 goals in the process. Even without Lewandowski, Barcelona’s attacking depth is formidable and should be too much for the hosts.
