For Mallorca fans, this sumr 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 investnts over reckless spending—was t with little resistance from fans. After all, the club had always operated this way: selling a few players, buying a few replacents. In fact, this sumr 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 commitnt alone was enough.
Beyond football, Mallorca's rapid developnt was another hot topic. So residents welcod 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 developnt 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 newcors—many of them were only a few generations removed from being immigrants themselves.
The first batch of construction workers recruited for the developnt 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 apartnt 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 developnt plan. After that, they would construct their own hos.
Job security was not a concern for them—nothing suits a construction worker better than a city undergoing massive developnt. 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 ant increased business and higher incos. With more people to feed, clothe, and house, the local economy received a significant boost.
More money in their pockets ant 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 sumr 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 hogrown 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 ford a fearso 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 ho 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 ti he smiled was when Zidane's na ca 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 rely 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 ho ga of the season. His undefeated ho 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 ga as a test rather than a must-win final. They wanted to see how their squads perford and what weaknesses needed addressing before the real challenges of the season.
Madrid's strategy was clear: let Zidane dictate play. Mallorca, anwhile, 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 ti beating both Morientes and Hierro to the ball, heading it forcefully out of the box.
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