Barcelona has reclaimed the second position in the La Liga standings following a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Mallorca at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium on Friday evening. Despite the absence of several key players, Barça managed to secure the win, albeit not displaying their usual peak performance. Lamine Yamal’s remarkable goal proved to be the decisive factor, providing Barcelona with three vital points and a significant morale boost as they prepare for the upcoming Champions League showdown against Napoli.
First half
The initial 45 minutes of play adhered to the typical framework of a home fixture for Barcelona against a defensively oriented opposition employing a formation with five defenders: characterized by prolonged spells of possession, lateral passing movements, devoid of inventiveness and dynamism, resulting in a lack of genuine goal-scoring opportunities. The commencement of the match at the Olímpic Stadium was marked by a noticeable absence of significant action, with Barcelona exhibiting a subdued tempo, displaying minimal urgency or intensity both in possession and without the ball.
Nonetheless, Barcelona were presented with a pivotal opportunity to seize the lead in the 24th minute following a foul on Raphinha by José Copete inside the penalty area, subsequently resulting in a penalty awarded by the referee upon consultation with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Ilkay Gündogan assumed responsibility for the penalty kick, a scenario where he typically demonstrates proficiency, yet the German midfielder’s execution fell short as Predrag Rajkovic made a routine save, preserving the deadlock.
The thwarting of the penalty attempt injected Mallorca with a surge of confidence, prompting them to pose a threat on the counterattack. Mallorca’s forwards, Vedat Muriqi and Cyle Larin, utilizing their physical attributes, imposed themselves upon the Barcelona defense, necessitating crucial defensive interventions, notably from Iñigo Martínez, to avert genuine goal-scoring opportunities.
Barcelona suffered a setback towards the latter stages of the first half, as Raphinha was forced off the field due to an ankle injury sustained during the aforementioned penalty incident. His replacement, Fermín López, injected a much-needed impetus into Barcelona’s play: his inherent intensity catalyzed an elevation in the urgency levels among his teammates, prompting Barcelona to press higher up the pitch with purpose. Despite coming close to breaking the deadlock in the dying moments of the half, Barcelona failed to unlock Mallorca’s well-drilled defensive setup due to a lack of incisiveness in the final third.
As the halftime whistle blew, the scoreline remained deadlocked, with Barcelona encountering familiar difficulties when confronted with an entrenched defensive unit, compounded by Gündogan’s squandered penalty being the solitary notable scoring opportunity of the period for either side. Barcelona possessed a variety of options at their disposal on the substitutes’ bench to potentially alter the course of the game; however, a substantial improvement in performance was requisite to procure the decisive goals in the second half.
Second half
In the onset of the second half, a resurgence in gameplay was witnessed as Mallorca, unexpectedly, adopted an aggressive stance, advancing their players in an attempt to seize the lead from Barça. Despite their endeavors, the visiting team’s assaults were thwarted repeatedly by Barça’s center-backs, who intervened effectively to quash potential threats.
In response, the Blaugrana adopted a swifter and more intense strategy, resorting to long passes to counter Mallorca’s sudden offensive pressure. This approach led to two significant opportunities for the home team: Lamine Yamal’s powerful strike hit the crossbar following a corner kick, and Gündogan missed a clear chance after a skillful exchange with Marc Guiu inside the penalty area.
With Xavi suspended and his brother Óscar Hernández assuming the role of interim head coach, two attacking substitutions were made at the hour mark, with Robert Lewandowski and Vitor Roque introduced from the bench to bolster the team’s scoring prowess.
Lewandowski and Roque injected heightened energy and aggression into Barça’s gameplay, intensifying their pursuit without possession while enhancing the tempo of their passing. Despite their improved performance, a moment of individual brilliance was required to break Mallorca’s resilient defense.
This moment arrived with 20 minutes remaining when Yamal received a pass from Lewandowski, maneuvered into space at the edge of the box, and unleashed a spectacular curling shot into the top corner, leaving Rajkovic with no chance of a save. The goal electrified the atmosphere at Montjuïc Stadium.
Mallorca attempted an immediate response, capitalizing on Barça’s initial lapse in possession, but the Catalans swiftly regained control and sought to secure victory with a second goal as the match entered its final phase.
As the visitors made attacking substitutions and switched to a back four in the dying moments, aiming for a late equalizer, Barça’s defense stood firm, ensuring the home team clinched all three points as the final whistle sounded. Although the victory lacked aesthetic appeal, it was crucial given the absence of key players for Barça. Yamal’s moment of brilliance proved decisive, underscoring the significance of securing the win on this particular occasion.