Barcelona’s 5-1 victory at Mallorca on Tuesday marked their return to winning ways in La Liga after a month of disappointing results. The win was especially significant as it saw Barcelona net four goals in the second half, showcasing their attacking strength. Manager Hansi Flick opted to rest Robert Lewandowski, LaLiga’s top scorer, who had played every match of the season so far. In his place, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, returning from an ankle injury, was reinstated to the starting lineup, and his presence had an immediate impact.
Flick expressed his appreciation for Yamal’s qualities, acknowledging that the young forward’s skill set made a “huge difference” for the team. Yamal was involved in multiple key moments, including winning the penalty that led to Barcelona’s second goal and assisting in another. “With his quality, he is a huge difference in our team,” Flick remarked, also praising the team’s general performance, including their central defenders, despite the challenges posed by their style of play.
Barcelona quickly made their mark in the match, with Ferran Torres opening the scoring in the 12th minute. Mallorca’s defense made a critical error when Johan Mojica’s attempted clearance hit a teammate, allowing Torres to slot the ball home. Mallorca responded just before the break, with Vedat Muriqi equalizing through a swift counter-attack.
However, Barcelona came out strong in the second half, with Raphinha scoring twice to put them back in control. His first came from the penalty spot in the 56th minute after Yamal was fouled inside the box. Then, Yamal provided an assist for Raphinha’s second goal, a simple tap-in. Late goals from Frenkie De Jong and Pau Víctor sealed the comfortable victory for Barcelona.
Raphinha reflected on the win, emphasizing the importance of getting back to winning ways. “In the last three games something has been missing,” he said, adding that while it wasn’t their best performance, the result was what mattered most. The Brazilian forward also spoke about his current form, stating that he was “living my best moment professionally” and was determined to continue contributing to the team’s success.
With the win, Barcelona now top the La Liga standings with 37 points, four ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who have two games in hand. Atlético Madrid sit third with 32 points.
