<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/barcelona/">FC Barcelona</a> kicked off their 2025-26 La Liga campaign at Son Moix against RCD Mallorca, one of their main objectives this season. But their debut was quickly overshadowed by controversy after <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ferran-torres/">Ferran Torres</a> scored a disputed goal following a dramatic decision from referee José Luis Munuera Montero.



The visitors struck early when Lamine Yamal delivered a precise cross to the far post for Raphinha, who scored a great header in the 7th minute. With Barca firmly in control, the controversy came on their second goal.



In the 22nd minute, Yamal cut inside and unleashed a powerful shot that was deflected off Antonio Raíllo’s head. The defender immediately went down in visible pain, but play continued. As <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mallorca/">Mallorca</a> appealed for the stoppage, Torres pounced on the loose ball at the edge of the box and buried Barcelona’s second.



The uproar came when Munuera Montero allowed the goal to stand. While Raíllo was still on the ground receiving medical attention, the referee retrieved the ball and signaled for the goal to count, sparking furious protests from the home side.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This Ferran Torres goal ended up counting and Barca have gone up 2-0 😅 <a href="https://t.co/FrKPtkwglI">pic.twitter.com/FrKPtkwglI</a>— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1956778916053458947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2025</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Replays showed Munuera Montero briefly raised his whistle to his mouth as Raíllo went down but never blew it, keeping the play live. In disbelief, Mallorca head coach Jagoba Arrasate confronted the referee on the sideline, but the explanation only fueled further frustration.


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<h2>A nightmare first half for Mallorca</h2>



The two-goal deficit wasn’t Mallorca’s only problem in the opening half as their hopes of clawing back into the game quickly unraveled. In the 33rd minute, Yamal won possession on the edge of the box before being brought down by Manu Morlanes. Already booked for protesting Torres’ goal, Morlanes was shown a second yellow and sent off.



Just two minutes later, disaster struck again. After a long ball over the top, Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia rushed out to head the danger clear, only to be struck on the head by Vedat Muriqi’s boot. The referee initially showed a yellow card, but following a VAR review, it was upgraded to red, leaving Mallorca down to nine men by the 39th minute.

Video: Ferran Torres nets controversial goal for Barcelona vs. Mallorca amid referee drama

Video: Ferran Torres nets controversial goal for Barcelona vs. Mallorca amid referee drama - World Soccer Talk

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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/barcelona/">FC Barcelona</a> are set to visit Son Moix to face RCD Mallorca in their first match of the 2025-26 La Liga season. After winning the league last year, expectations are sky-high for the defending champions. But when the lineups were announced, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/robert-lewandowski/">Robert Lewandowski</a>’s absence raised immediate questions among fans.



The Blaugrana begin their second season under German coach Hansi Flick with the UEFA Champions League as the main objective following an impressive debut year. But the opener in Spain’s top flight comes with a major setback, as their star striker won’t be available.



Robert Lewandowski will miss the clash with Mallorca due to muscle issues in the femoral biceps of his left leg. While he did take part in Barcelona’s final training session, he was separated from the main group, signaling that he wasn’t fully fit to feature in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/la-liga/">La Liga</a> debut.



The problem is the same one that sidelined him for the Joan Gamper Trophy against Como. At that time, Barcelona released a statement confirming: “The first team player Robert Lewandowski has a hamstring problem in his left thigh. The striker is unavailable for Sunday’s game and his recovery will determine his return.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250816_WST_584913_robert-lewandowski-barcelona-vissel-kobe-1200x675_3f247322.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-584930" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/16123249/robert-lewandowski-barcelona-vissel-kobe-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/16123249/robert-lewandowski-barcelona-vissel-kobe-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/16123249/robert-lewandowski-barcelona-vissel-kobe-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/16123249/robert-lewandowski-barcelona-vissel-kobe-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/16123249/robert-lewandowski-barcelona-vissel-kobe-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/16123249/robert-lewandowski-barcelona-vissel-kobe-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/16123249/robert-lewandowski-barcelona-vissel-kobe-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/16123249/robert-lewandowski-barcelona-vissel-kobe.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Lewandowski was one of Barcelona’s most decisive players last season, scoring 42 goals in 52 matches to lead the team in scoring. Entering the final year of his contract, the Polish forward has made clear he’s not focused on his future but on replicating his form from last year.


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<h2>Ferran and Rashford to compete for Lewandowski’s spot</h2>



With Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, and Raphinha expected to start in attacking roles, filling Lewandowski’s vacancy will be no easy task. Flick often turned to Ferran Torres as a backup striker during his first season, but newcomer Marcus Rashford could also be in the mix.



The English forward saw his first minutes in preseason coming off the bench, often replacing Raphinha on the left flank. However, his versatility across the front line means he can slot in centrally. For the opener against <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mallorca/">Mallorca</a>, though, Flick has opted to start Ferran Torres as the striker.

Why is Robert Lewandowski not playing for Barcelona against Mallorca in 2025-26 La Liga debut?

Why is Robert Lewandowski not playing for Barcelona against Mallorca in 2025-26 La Liga debut? - World Soccer Talk

This Friday marked the official kickoff of the Spanish soccer season with two matches: Rayo Vallecano defeated Girona 3-1, and Villarreal secured a 2-0 win over Real Oviedo. With Barcelona set to debut on Saturday and Real Madrid taking the field on Tuesday, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/la-liga/">La Liga</a> begins the new campaign with a significant overhaul in its approach to VAR.



The most notable change is the creation of VAR-PRO—a specialized team of referees dedicated solely to video assistant referee duties for each matchday. This represents a major shift in how referees are assigned to La Liga games.



Previously, a referee in Spain could be designated as the on-field official for one match and serve as the VAR official the following week. Starting this season, referees assigned to VAR duties will focus exclusively on that role, with the aim of building greater specialization and improving overall performance.



VAR-PRO will consist of 15 referees who will be assigned to matches in both La Liga and Spain’s second division. In addition, a separate group of VAR analysts will evaluate the performance of these 15 officials and determine their assignments for upcoming fixtures based on those assessments.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250815_WST_584784_var-1-1200x675_72c3b65f.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-584785" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15185823/var-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15185823/var-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15185823/var-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15185823/var-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15185823/var-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15185823/var-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15185823/var-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15185823/var-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Referee Alejandro Quintero González gestures for a VAR review during the LaLiga match between RCD Mallorca and RCD Espanyol.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Updated VAR criteria in La Liga</h2>



Beyond the introduction of VAR-PRO, there will also be a shift in how VAR decisions are made. According to Sport, the Referees’ Technical Committee (CTA) believes VAR has been intervening too frequently in recent La Liga matches.


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The new objective is to ensure that VAR only intervenes in cases of “clear, obvious, and manifest errors,” with Sport reporting that the system should now act “as a safety net and not as a filter for every play that occurs during matches.” The hope is that this adjustment will reduce the number of stoppages and help the game flow more smoothly.



<h2>Major innovation in Spain’s second division</h2>



Alongside these changes in La Liga, a groundbreaking trial will be introduced in Spain’s second division that could eventually make its way to the top flight. The system, known as Football Video Support (FVS), shares a similar philosophy with tennis’s Hawk-Eye technology.


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Until now, the use of video technology in soccer has been entirely referee-driven—meaning only the officials can initiate a review. FVS changes that by allowing teams to actively request reviews.



This season, coaches in Spain’s second division will be allowed two review requests per match for key situations such as goals, penalty decisions, or red cards. If the referee reviews the play and agrees with the coach’s challenge, the team retains that review opportunity for future use during the same match.

La Liga introduces VAR changes in 2025-26 as Spain trials major rule modification in second division

La Liga introduces VAR changes in 2025-26 as Spain trials major rule modification in second division - World Soccer Talk

<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lamine-yamal/">Lamine Yamal</a>’s sudden rise has stunned both insiders and outsiders in world soccer, leaving many amazed at how a player his age has managed to establish himself at the highest level. Sharing the pitch with him at FC Barcelona, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/robert-lewandowski/">Robert Lewandowski</a> made a bold statement about archrival Real Madrid: “They have pressure to find someone like Lamine.”



One of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/real-madrid/">Real Madrid</a>’s marquee moves this summer was the signing of Argentine wonderkid Franco Mastantuono from River Plate, who was presented to the media just after turning 18. With Xabi Alonso now in charge, Los Blancos spent $60 million to land him, and given his profile as a young, left-footed winger, comparisons with Yamal quickly surfaced.



Speaking to ESPN, Lewandowski was asked about Real Madrid’s newest addition and didn’t mince words. “You can’t compare the players, specially at this young age. What I see is that football is taking so many young players and put pressure on them. It’s not about the football, but so many people of this age are not ready mentally to take this opportunity.



The Polish striker warned about the long-term effects such expectations can have on teenagers: “I think it makes them weaker, not now, but the question is what’s going to happen when they’re going to be 24, 26, or 28. Will they still be playing in the top level or not? If you started so young, it’s a huge challenge to stay in the top, not only 5, but 10 years or even longer.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250815_WST_584727_franco-mastantuono-river-plate-lamine-yamal-barcelona-1200x675_3f5f46d5.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Franco Mastantuono addressed clashing with Lamine Yamal for the Ballon d&apos;Or." class="wp-image-579243" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/07/14153720/franco-mastantuono-river-plate-lamine-yamal-barcelona-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/07/14153720/franco-mastantuono-river-plate-lamine-yamal-barcelona-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/07/14153720/franco-mastantuono-river-plate-lamine-yamal-barcelona-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/07/14153720/franco-mastantuono-river-plate-lamine-yamal-barcelona-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/07/14153720/franco-mastantuono-river-plate-lamine-yamal-barcelona-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/07/14153720/franco-mastantuono-river-plate-lamine-yamal-barcelona-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/07/14153720/franco-mastantuono-river-plate-lamine-yamal-barcelona-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/07/14153720/franco-mastantuono-river-plate-lamine-yamal-barcelona.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



When asked directly whether Real Madrid are under pressure because of Yamal’s emergence, Lewandowski doubled down. “For sure they have pressure to find someone like Lamine. I think that’ll be impossible, and it’s better for you to follow your own way. Of course the fans and the expectations are always ‘Oh, we have to find some kind of Lamine,’ but this kind of guy isn’t born every year.“


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Lewandowski also pointed out that this uniqueness had previously been seen with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who defined an era for both <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/barcelona/">Barcelona</a> and Real Madrid. With expectations already sky-high for Yamal and Mastantuono, Lewandowski suggested the real test will be whether they can sustain their elite level for the long term.



<h2>What did Mastantuono say about comparisons with Yamal?</h2>



After becoming the youngest player to debut in an official match for Argentina, Mastantuono set the bar high just days after turning 18—naturally fueling speculation of a potential future rivalry with Yamal for the Ballon d’Or, a topic Chelsea’s Estevão recently touched on. But for Mastantuono, individual awards are far from his priorities.



“Estevão is a great player. As for the Ballon d’Or, honestly, it’s not something I’m thinking about right now. I’m focused on adapting to Real Madrid, starting to play, and winning—because that’s what the club demands. I want to win a lot of things with Real Madrid,” he told TyC Sports back in July.



The Argentine emphasized his focus remains firmly on collective success. “If you ask me, my goal is to win many titles, fight for the Champions League, win La Liga—those are the things I have in mind. Obviously, the first step is to adapt and be ready to play. The Ballon d’Or is honestly not on my mind. I appreciate Estevão’s words, but it’s not something I’m focused on.”

Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski makes bold claim about Real Madrid: ‘They have pressure to find someone like Lamine Yamal’

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski makes bold claim about Real Madrid: 'They have pressure to find someone like Lamine Yamal' - World Soccer Talk

The 2025-26 Premier League season kicked off this Friday with the reigning champions taking the field. Liverpool defeated Bournemouth 4-2 at Anfield Road in a match that remained exciting until the very end. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mohamed-salah/">Mohamed Salah</a> scored one of the goals and hit an impressive milestone in the process.



Things had started well for the Reds, who opened the scoring in the 37th minute of the first half through Hugo Ekitike. The striker capitalized on a rebound, slipped into the box with the ball, and calmly slotted it home. The lead was extended after the break thanks to Cody Gakpo, who finished with a smooth low shot to the far post.



However, just when it seemed like <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/liverpool/">Liverpool</a> were in control, Bournemouth mounted an unexpected comeback. Antoine Semenyo led the visitors’ surge, and between the 64th and 76th minutes, they shocked Liverpool with two quick goals to bring the score level.



With time running out and the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/premier-league/">Premier League</a> champions facing a frustrating start to their title defense, a chaotic sequence inside the box created an opening. Federico Chiesa pounced on the loose ball and blasted it into the net to restore the Reds’ lead.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250815_WST_584729_chiesa-1200x675_6843f7f2.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-584749" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15173800/chiesa-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15173800/chiesa-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15173800/chiesa-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15173800/chiesa-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15173800/chiesa-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15173800/chiesa-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15173800/chiesa-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/08/15173800/chiesa.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Federico Chiesa of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Premier League match vs. Bournemouth.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Salah’s record-setting goal</h2>



With the lead back in hand, Liverpool stayed aggressive and looked to put the match away. They did just that in the 94th minute. Mohamed Salah received the ball on the left side of the box, danced past a Bournemouth defender, and fired a right-footed shot into the back of the net for Liverpool’s fourth goal.


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That strike not only sealed the Reds’ victory but also allowed Salah to reach two historic milestones in Premier League history. First, he tied Andy Cole as the league’s fourth all-time leading scorer with 187 goals—closing in on Wayne Rooney (208), Harry Kane (213), and all-time leader Alan Shearer (260).



The Egyptian winger also became the first player ever to score in 10 different Premier League opening weekends, surpassing icons like Rooney, Shearer, Jamie Vardy, and Frank Lampard.



<h2>What’s next in the Premier League?</h2>



Following Liverpool’s 4-2 win over Bournemouth, the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League schedule</a> offers some highly anticipated matchups in the days ahead. On Saturday, Manchester City will visit Wolverhampton, while Tottenham take on Burnley. Then on Sunday, Matchday 1 will wrap up with the weekend’s biggest clash: Manchester United vs Arsenal.

Mohamed Salah scores in Liverpool’s win over Bournemouth and reaches historic Premier League milestone

Mohamed Salah scores in Liverpool’s win over Bournemouth and reaches historic Premier League milestone - World Soccer Talk

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