Barca scored five to win again at Mallorca

Raphinha and Lamine Yamal helped Barcelona beat Mallorca 5-1 on Tuesday for their first La Liga win in four. The Catalans lead the league with 37 points, four ahead of Real Madrid, but with two extra matches played.

On Wednesday, Carlo Ancelotti’s Spanish and European winners will go to Athletic Bilbao to try to trim the gap to one point. Mallorca remains sixth in La Liga, two points behind Bilbao for the Champions League position. Barcelona took the lead through Ferran Torres, but Vedat Muriqi levelled to finish the first half.

Raphinha scored twice, Frenkie de Jong scored, and Pau Victor scored as the away side dominated the second half.

“We felt winning again was crucial. Something was missing in the last three games. Today was excellent, not our finest game, but winning was most important “Raphia, Barcelona captain, told Movistar.

Teenage starlet Yamal started the match after recovering from an ankle injury, boosting Barcelona. Hansi Flick’s team lost points in Yamal’s two league absences and to Las Palmas at home when he was only fit enough to start on the bench.

Panicked defending gave Barca the lead in the 12th minute, giving Torres a fantastic opportunity when there was no danger. As a trio of Majorcan defenders returned the ball to their custodian, full-back Johan Mojica tried to lash it away, but he accidentally hit Antonio Raillo, who scored the opener.

Mallorca’s over-the-top passes were foiled by Barcelona’s high defence. Mallorca were applying pressure on Barcelona, but their fast-paced forward quartet of Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, and Torres remained dangerous.

A second goal was imminent for both teams, and the hosts scored in the 43rd minute. Inigo Martinez was deeper than the Barcelona line, and Pablo Maffeo picked the best time to sprint onto Sergi Darder’s pass and pass to Muriqi for a goal.

‘GIVE ALL’

Leo Roman saved Raillo’s back-header from Raphinha after another defensive lapse nearly doubled the visitors’ lead at halftime. The Mallorca custodian saved a fast free-kick from the Brazilian early in the second half.

Raphinha scored a 56th-minute penalty past Roman for his third time in the match. The returning Yamal earned the spot-kick by racing onto Olmo’s through-ball and being pulled down by Mojica inside the box.

Barcelona struggled creatively without Yamal, but the 17-year-old showed his genius again moments later when a spectacular backheel produced an opportunity until Pedri’s shot was stopped. With 14 minutes left, Raphinha scored from Yamal’s outside-of-the-foot pass to secure Barcelona’s win.

“I’m living my best moment, but I want more. I want to do more for this crest. I adore this club. “I’ll give my all on the pitch,” remarked Raphinha.

Euro 2024 champion Yamal replicated the technique five minutes later, finding Victor’s forward run, whose cross was cut out but only as far as De Jong, who finished well. In the final 10 minutes, De Jong set up 23-year-old replacement Victor to score.

Yamal might have finished a great second half, but the defiant Roman saved his dinked finish.