Unfortunate La Liga Record Broken During RCD Mallorca–FC Barcelona Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated Aug 16, 2025 7:32 PM ET

La Liga is back, and the action kicked off on August 16, 2025. Just one matchday in, the Spanish top flight has already delivered drama but not the kind anyone would celebrate.

During the clash between RCD Mallorca and FC Barcelona, players combined to set a record that had never been seen before in the league. Unfortunately, it’s the kind of milestone that carries more disappointment than pride.

During the first game week, Villarreal vs. Oviedo and Girona vs. Rayo Vallecano each saw a first-half red card, and then Barcelona vs. Mallorca added two more when the hosts had a pair of players sent off.

This is the first time in La Liga history that 4 red cards have been shown in the first halves of the first round of matches. pic.twitter.com/gNkpiw9OBF
— The Touchline | (@TouchlineX) August 16, 2025

That makes it four red cards across the very first round of the season, the most ever to kick off a La Liga campaign. Definitely not the kind of record anyone’s proud to see.

A Closer Look at the Reigning Champions FC Barcelona’s First Game of the New Season

Barcelona kicked off their La Liga title defense in style, easing past nine-man Mallorca with a 3-0 win on a night that also saw Marcus Rashford make his long-awaited debut in Catalonia.

Raphinha got things rolling inside the opening minutes, nodding home at the far post from a perfect Lamine Yamal cross. Not long after, Ferran Torres doubled the lead with a strike from outside the box, though Mallorca players were furious the goal stood, insisting play should’ve been stopped after one of their teammates was struck in the head earlier in the buildup.

Their frustrations only grew when Manu Morlanes was sent off for a second yellow after hauling down Yamal, having already been booked for protesting Torres’ goal. Things went from bad to worse as Vedat Muriqi saw red for catching Barça goalkeeper Joan García in the head with a high boot. Yamal put the finishing touches on the win in stoppage time with a rocket into the top corner.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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