Chapter 148: The First Battle of the New Season

For Mallorca fans, this summer had been an absolute delight.

At the end of June, their club secured its first-ever Copa del Rey trophy, and within just a month, a series of exciting transfers filled supporters with confidence. While the departure of fan-favorite Ibagaza to Valencia was disappointing, the arrivals of Spanish international Rufete and Belgian international Van Buyten softened the blow. Additionally, the signings of Pablo García, who had previously impressed in La Liga, along with two promising young strikers, bolstered Mallorca's squad depth even more than last season—perfectly aligning with the demands of a three-front campaign.

Mallorca's conservative spending in the transfer market—prioritizing rational investments over reckless spending—was met with little resistance from fans. After all, the club had always operated this way: selling a few players, buying a few replacements. In fact, this summer marked one of the lowest transfer market profits in years. Factoring in last winter's spending spree, it was clear to everyone that Mallorca's leadership was making a serious push for success. For the fans, that commitment alone was enough.

Beyond football, Mallorca's rapid development was another hot topic. Some residents welcomed the economic boom, while others feared it would damage the island's natural beauty. However, the Balearic regional council assured the public that historic and ecologically preserved areas in the north, southwest, northwest, and northeast of the island would remain untouched. The current development was focused on the relatively barren southern region, which lacked historical landmarks and had little agricultural value. Rather than letting the land sit idle, officials saw an opportunity to harness Mallorca's unique advantages to bring prosperity to the island's residents.

Given Mallorca's long history of immigration, its locals had an inherently tolerant attitude toward newcomers—many of them were only a few generations removed from being immigrants themselves.

The first batch of construction workers recruited for the development had already arrived, with enticing incentives: in addition to competitive wages, those willing to settle permanently on the island were promised a free small private apartment in the newly developed housing areas—though they would still have to pay property taxes and other associated costs.

All 10,000 available slots for construction workers were quickly filled. Upon arrival, they set up temporary shelters in Llucmajor, where their first task was to build roads according to the initial development plan. After that, they would construct their own homes.

Job security was not a concern for them—nothing suits a construction worker better than a city undergoing massive development. Even after this project ended, opportunities in other parts of Mallorca would remain abundant, given the island's thriving tourism industry and expanding infrastructure.

For the local residents, whose livelihoods mostly revolved around the service sector, the surge in population meant increased business and higher incomes. With more people to feed, clothe, and house, the local economy received a significant boost.

More money in their pockets meant happier spirits, and so, with great enthusiasm, Mallorca fans eagerly awaited the team's first official match of the new season…

August 12: Mallorca vs. Real Madrid – Spanish Super Cup First Leg

Real Madrid's summer transfer activity had once again shaken European football. The arrival of Zinedine Zidane not only shattered the world transfer record but also added even more star power to an already dazzling squad. However, apart from Zidane, Madrid had made no other major signings, relying instead on academy promotions—Portillo, Pavón, Rubén, and Raúl Bravo. Club president Florentino Pérez confidently declared that the "Zidane plus Pavón" policy would elevate Madrid to even greater heights.

The philosophy was simple: sign world-class attackers to enhance global appeal while developing homegrown defenders to maintain squad balance. It was an appealing vision, but whether it would actually work remained to be seen.

Compared to Mallorca, Madrid's starting lineup had not changed significantly—Zidane and Figo formed a fearsome midfield duo, with Makelele providing defensive support.

Despite being the reigning La Liga champions, Madrid arrived in Mallorca with a noticeably cautious attitude. After all, last season, they had been completely outclassed by Mallorca—losing 0-1 at home and 0-2 away. In fact, Mallorca was the only team to achieve a league double over Madrid that season. While the combined market value of Mallorca's squad barely matched the transfer fees of Zidane and Figo, Madrid still did not take them lightly.

"Mallorca is an excellent team. Over the past few seasons, they've been one of the most eye-catching sides in La Liga. We need to be careful playing away," Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque stated humbly in a pre-match interview. The only time he smiled was when Zidane's name came up.

"Zidane is a world-class player. His past performances speak for themselves. I'm delighted to work with him. With both Zidane and Figo in midfield, Madrid now has the strongest midfield in the world. Our goal? La Liga and the Champions League titles."

It was rare to hear Del Bosque making such bold declarations before a season had even begun. Clearly, Zidane's signing had filled him with confidence—even though club president Florentino Pérez had been looking for an excuse to fire him, he still kept bringing in top-tier players for the coach.

Mallorca manager José, on the other hand, was far more indifferent when asked about the match.

"It's just the Spanish Super Cup. Of course, we'll try to win, but it's mainly a chance to fine-tune the team. We've brought in several new players this season, and my priority is integrating them for La Liga and the Champions League."

To José, the Super Cup was merely a decorative trophy—nice to have but not a necessity. Unlike La Liga or the Champions League, no elite club truly cared about it unless they were chasing a six-trophy season. Typically, only mid-table clubs prioritized winning it. José saw no reason to sacrifice team cohesion for a minor trophy.

That said, this was still the team's first home game of the season. His undefeated home record mattered to him, and given the fans' anticipation, putting on a strong performance was a must.

The Starting Lineups

Despite their relaxed attitudes in interviews, both teams fielded their strongest available lineups.

Madrid's XI:

GK:

Casillas

RB: Salgado

CBs: Hierro, Karanka

LB: Roberto Carlos

DM: Makelele

RM: Figo

LM: Savio

CAM: Zidane

STs: Raúl, Morientes

Apart from the injured Helguera, this was essentially Madrid's best lineup.

Mallorca's XI:

GK: Franco

RB: Jorge

CBs: Nadal, Van Buyten

LB: Capdevila

DM: Motta

LM: Kaladze

RM: Rufete

CAM: Ronaldinho

STs: Eto'o, Luque

Mallorca retained most of last season's core, with Van Buyten replacing Niño in defense and Rufete stepping in for the departed Ibagaza.

Kickoff

Both managers remained composed on the sidelines. They were seasoned professionals who viewed this game as a test rather than a must-win final. They wanted to see how their squads performed and what weaknesses needed addressing before the real challenges of the season.

Madrid's strategy was clear: let Zidane dictate play. Mallorca, meanwhile, didn't explicitly center their attacks around a single player, though Rufete saw more of the ball than expected.

It didn't take long for Zidane to show his class.

Just three minutes in, he effortlessly weaved past Motta's challenge, maintaining control despite the aggressive pressing. Spotting an opening, Zidane threaded a pass to Figo on the right wing. Figo delivered a pinpoint cross, and Morientes rose for a powerful header—only for Mallorca's goalkeeper, Franco, to pull off a brilliant save.

Van Buyten, frustrated by losing the aerial duel, gritted his teeth. He knew Morientes was an elite striker, but he prided himself on dominating in the air.

"Move your feet faster and anticipate the ball's flight path," Nadal advised.

Van Buyten nodded, refocusing as he prepared for the next duel.

Figo took the ensuing corner. Van Buyten leaped high, this time beating both Morientes and Hierro to the ball, heading it forcefully out of the box.