FC Barcelona made its LaLiga debut by securing all three points after defeating Mallorca at Son Moix. The truth is that Hansi Flick's side passed a match that is always challenging with flying colors, winning by 3 goals to 0 and leaving a very positive impression. However, as always, from Madrid they've tried to downplay the victory, pointing to an alleged new "robbery" to start winning a new league edition.
The controversy in the Mallorca-Barça match
From the capital, they practically label every action as controversial. In the first, Raphinha scored, but they claim the ball had already gone out on the sideline when Lamine Yamal had it: completely false. Then, in the 0-2, Raíllo went to the ground after clearing a ball with his head, but he was perfectly fine as Munuera Montero could see.
Later, Morlanes was sent off with a second yellow card, while VAR had to intervene for an aggression by Muriqi on Joan García: he drove his studs into his face.
Iturralde González speaks out
Speaking about what happened in the Mallorca-Barça match, Iturralde González was clear. The former referee, in statements to "Carrusel Deportivo", analyzed the 0-2 scored by Ferran Torres, the action that has sparked the most controversy.
"The only one who can stop the match is the referee. The play isn't immediate, the blow to the head happened earlier and there's a clearance by Mallorca. For match management, it gives him plenty of time to stop the game and be concerned about the player's injury. It was match management that got away from him," he stated.
"He's not in condition to be taken off"
These words from Iturralde González aren't the only important ones to put an end to all this controversy in the Mallorca-Barça match. After what happened in the 0-2, we've been able to see the conversation between José Luis Munuera, the match referee, and Jagoba Arrasate, Mallorca's coach.
"It's a blow while clearing the ball. Listen, listen to me for a second. He cleared the ball with his head, I spoke with him: He's not in condition to be taken off. You know it perfectly well, he clears with his head, that's it," Munuera Montero told him.
Despite the controversy that is always enjoyed in Madrid, this is the reality. Barça starts off with a solid win in LaLiga, in a match that always has its complications. Ferran Torres's 0-2 is completely legal and Raíllo is perfectly fine. Well-made decision.