Even though Barcelona beat Mallorca 5-1 earlier this season, the scoreline from last night should have been the same, considering the total domination of the game.
Hansi Flick’s side controlled the tempo of the match from the first whistle to the last and created numerous chances throughout the match with a clear sight of the goal.
The breakthrough finally came early in the second half from Dani Olmo’s nerve-settling finish. Barcelona’s attempts to get a second goal continued, but they were only able to walk away with a 1-0 win, giving them three big points in their chase for the title.
Here are the Barcelona player ratings:
Wojciech Szczesny (8.5):
An easy evening for the goalkeeper as Mallorca offered little in the way of attack. Good distribution and made good decisions when they arose.
Hector Fort (8):
The young defender surprised in an unfamiliar position at left back, demonstrating the balance of defensive solidity and attacking threat, despite not being the quickest going forward.
Inigo Martinez (8.5):
The Spanish center half put in another dominant performance, not only defending well, but also good with the ball at his feet with his passing and keeping the attack flowing.
Ronald Araujo (8):
Provided the defensive presence and contributed at set-pieces while also evolving his distribution from the back.
Eric Garcia (8.5):
Solid right back performance to provide defensive cover as well as an assist for Olmo’s goal with a great cross.
Gavi (8):
One of his better performances recently, grafting defensively while contributing to the attacking threat, including a first-half shot that hit the post.
Pedri (9.5):
The midfield maestro ran the game with his unbelievable technique and intelligence, creating numerous chances for Mallorca’s defense to think about.
Dani Olmo (9):
Marked his first start since coming back from injury with the winner, and looked dangerous throughout, providing leadership in attack and executing an outstanding performance that justified his selection.
Lamine Yamal (8):
Looked fresh after recent fatigue, acting as the prime creative moment for Barcelona’s attack in the final third.
Ansu Fati (8):
Ansu showed good signs in only his second start of the season with some good movement but did not seem very sharp in front of goal.
Ferran Torres (7.5):
Worked hard and had some opportunities, but just couldn’t find the back of the net. As the game progressed, he became more invisible on the pitch.
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