Real Madrid star sent off as Los Blancos drop points in Kylian Mbappe’s La Liga debut
Striker Kylian Mbappe's La Liga debut for Real Madrid didn't go according to plan as Los Blancos were held to a 1-1 draw at Valencia on Saturday (August 18).
Despite Rodrygo opening the scoring inside 13 minutes at the Mestalla, Vedat Muriqi levelled proceedings eight minutes into the second period before full-back Ferland Mendy was dismissed in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
While the 25-year-old Mbappe had marked his competitive Los Blancos debut with a goal in the 2-0 UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta in Warsaw last week. However, a goalscoring La Liga debut wasn't to be as Mbappe saw his compatriot Mendy sent off.
The dropped points didn't enthuse boss Carlo Ancelotti but admitted that the draw was eventually the 'correct' result (as per Managing Madrid):
“When we win the ball back, we all have to think about it together. You can think that it is a problem for the forwards, but it could be a problem for the defence, or for the midfielders.
"It's not a problem for one, two or three. It is a problem for a team that in this match did not understand that it was a key aspect. Mallorca played a great game defensively. The draw is correct.”
Mbappe and Co. are the defending La Liga, UEFA Champions League and Supercopa champions.
What's next for Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid?
Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe arrived at the club this summer on a free transfer after a prolific seven-season stint with PSG, where he scored a record 256 goals.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner commenced his Los Blancos stint with a goal in their UEFA Super Cup win. After drawing a blank on his La Liga debut for the side, Mbappe will look to fare better when the holders host Real Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday (August 25).
Valladolid are back in the top flight after a year's absence, finishing second in the Segunda Division last season, behind Leganes. In their last La Liga meeting with Los Blancos, they lost 2-0 at home in December 2022, with Karim Benzema netting a late second-half brace.
In the return at the Bernabeu in April 2023, Valladolid lost 6-0, with Benzema helping himself to a hat-trick, while Rodyrgo, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez were also among the scorers for Ancelotti's side.
In 16 previous meetings, Los Blancos have beaten Valladolid 13 times and lost just once.