Chronicle of FC Barcelona – RCD Mallorca, 1-0

FC Barcelona beat Mallorca (1-0) this Friday on matchday 28 of LaLiga EA Sports thanks to a work of art by Lamine Yamal in the 73rd minute, three points to keep faith in the defense of the league title and in a season that will have a momentous clash next Tuesday against Naples in the Champions League. Xavi Hernández’s team, who could not be on the bench at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys due to suspension, saved another tough day, after missing out on the option of getting closer to Real Madrid last week in San Mamés. The ‘culers’ beat the brand new Cup finalist to put pressure on those at the top. The plague of injuries is undoubtedly a good excuse but Barça’s image is more than under scrutiny. Without Frenkie de Jong or Pedri as the last significant casualties, Barça sweated to generate play, against an offensive Mallorca that collapsed after Ilkay Gündogan forgave a penalty. In the end, Lamine saved him for a Barça that remains standing although on the wire. The culé team started with a certain good air, 10-15 minutes like against Athletic, but the joy, the quick passing and the attacking movements went down until they were reduced to zero with the penalty missed by Gündogan around the half hour mark. The German seemed with that spark that needed a midfield without De Jong or Pedri, but he staged Barça’s general downturn. The Barça team also suffered an injury to Raphinha, the one chosen by Xavi to cover the losses in the centre. Mallorca, which had just beaten Girona in addition to getting into the Cup final at the expense of Real Sociedad, was growing with its idea much clearer and its actors in tune in search of moving further away from the relegation zone. The best thing about the locals at half-time was the performance of a Cubarsí who did not give up against Larin or Muriqi, but Aguirre’s team launched good ball starts with Darder, with a step forward after Rajkovic saved the penalty against Gündogan. The maximum penalty was given by Iglesias Villanueva with a warning from the VAR, in a touch by Copete on a Raphinha who was injured until he asked for a change. Mallorca finished the first round better, holding firm at the back to barely concede to a Joao Félix from whom Lluís Companys asked for more, with a deflected shot on goal, nor to Lamine Yamal or Marc Guiu, without a proper ball in the goal position. ‘9’. Xavi’s team returned with the highest pace from the start also at the restart and tried not to get cold this time. For that, the locals looked for Lamine, who shot the crossbar at his first serious warning. The young Barça talent, aged 16, dominated Barça’s game for another day, even with the entry of Lewandowski and Vitor Roque. Mallorca began to feel at the mercy of the Catalans’ vertical possession and in the 73rd minute it was 1-0. Lamine Yamal sent the ball into the top corner from his diagonal on the right wing to alleviate Montjuic’s bad taste with the game. Barça once again clung to its future more than its present, as with Cubarsí in defense, to get the three points. A great goal and a new lock at the back to lift the Barça spirit. DATA SHEET. –RESULT: FC BARCELONA, 1 – RCD MALLORCA, 0. (0-0, at halftime). –ALIGNMENTS. FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Iñigo Martínez, Cubarsí, Cancelo; Christensen, Gündogan (Oriol Romeu, min.87), Raphinha (Fermín, min.37), Lamine, Joao Félix (Vitor Roque, min.62) and Marc Guiu (Lewandowski, min.61). RCD MALLORCA: Rajkovic; Giovanni, Nastasic, Raíllo, Copete (Radonjic, min.83), Lato (Jaume Costa, min.71); Darder (Antonio Sánchez, min.71), Samu Costa, Morlanes (Dani Rodríguez, min.61); Larin (Abdón, min.82) and Muriqi. –GOAL: 1 – 0, min.73, Lamine Yamal. –REFEREE: Iglesias Villanueva (C. Gallego). He cautioned Iñigo Martínez (min.53) for Barça. And Samu Costa (min.86) in Mallorca. –STADIUM: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, 38,225 spectators.