Barca visit Mallorca for LaLiga opener, unbeaten in pre-season, facing hosts with mixed form, having dominated recent head-to-head encounters.

The 2025/2026 LaLiga season kicks off with a thrilling curtain-raiser as Barcelona travel to the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix to face Mallorca on August 16 at 18:30.

With Jose Munuera tasked with refereeing, this fixture will not just mark the start of the season but also give an early indication of what both sides have in mind.

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Barcelona, with Hans-Dieter Flick as new boss, hope to put a marker down for a title challenge, while Mallorca, under Jagoba Arrasate, hope for a home encouraging result to get the momentum going.

Barcelona enter the season in 5th place in the pre-season table, a ranking that can be interpreted as cautiously optimistic after their pre-season preparations.

Mallorca, on the other hand, start in 12th, a position that reflects their mid-table ambitions. The islanders will look to survival above all else but may have a sight on a push for European positions if the consistency is to follow. For each club, this meeting is the chance to begin well and build rhythm.

Form and preparation also tell different stories. Barcelona have been impeccable in their pre-season games, winning all five of their last games and demonstrating attacking flair everywhere on the pitch.

Mallorca, on the other hand, displayed variable form, combining strong victories with a thrashing at the hands of Lyon and a Parma draw. This match has the potential to reveal to us what preparation is more important when points are at stake.

Mallorca’s summer was a season of adaptation under Jagoba Arrasate’s leadership. His pre-season had promising results like wins against Hamburger SV (2-0) and Shabab Al-Ahli (2-1), but the 0-4 loss to Lyon raised alarms in defense.

Central to their cause will be physical forward Vedat Muriqi, whose strength was problematic for Barcelona in the past. Abdon Prats, another experienced face in the team, should join him if Arrasate decides to use an attack of two.

As for the absentees, Mallorca will be without Martin Valjent for injury, with midfielder Manu Morlanes also in doubt. Most likely to play are Rajkovic in goal, supported by Giovanni González, Nastasić, Raíllo, and Jaume Costa at the back. Midfield solidity could come from Samu Costa and Darder, while Dani Rodríguez and Antonio Sánchez from out wide can provide the creativity.

Barcelona, though, go into the season positively after sweeping aside Como 5-0 and tearing apart Daegu FC 5-0 in recent preseason games. Flick’s high-intensity pressing has bedded in quickly, with thumping wins suggesting coherence through the attacking line.

His side slumped Mallorca in recent years, winning four of the past five encounters, including a 5-1 hammering at Son Moix in December 2024.

For Barcelona, the match is both a statement of intentions and evidence of continuity. They will be without key players, however: Pedri recovers from a knock, Ronald Araújo serves a suspension, and Alejandro Balde is unavailable.

Despite that, Flick’s depth in his squad means there are plenty of options. Marc-André ter Stegen must play between the sticks, protected by a back four consisting of Koundé, Christensen, Iñigo Martínez, and Marcos Alonso. Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and İlkay Gündoğan should comprise the midfield, but out up front could be Lamine Yamal and Raphinha either side of Robert Lewandowski.

Blaugrana’s recent record against Mallorca is unbeatable, with tight wins last season supplemented by dominating wins.

Dani Olmo’s goal in their win in April 2025 and the double of Raphinha in their 5-1 win are examples of Barcelona’s potency up front. Flick will be keen to employ that precedent to get his side quickly up and running this season.