Barcelona back to their best in 5-1 demolition of Mallorca
- After three straight La Liga matches without a win, Barcelona returned to form with a 5-1 victory over Mallorca.
- A tale of two halves, the Blaugrana overwhelmed their hosts with relentless attacking play, showcasing depth and talent within Hansi Flick’s squad despite key absences.
By Rohan Borges
Barcelona entered the match under scrutiny following a disappointing run, but they started strong, controlling possession and imposing their style early. Starting in place of Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres opened the scoring in the 12th minute, capitalizing on a miscommunication between two of Mallorca’s defenders, which left him with a free strike from around the penalty spot.
However, lapses in focus late in the first half allowed Vedat Muriqi to equalize in the 43rd minute, as Barcelona’s high line was exposed by a perfectly weighted ball from Pablo Maceo. Hansi Flick’s offside trap has mostly worked wonders this season, but it’s a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.
The second half saw an energized and re-focused Barcelona emerge, with Dani Olmo orchestrating the attack. Nine minutes in, Olmo’s smooth through ball found Lamine Yamal, whose surging run into the box drew a clear foul from Johan Mojica.
Raphinha stepped up confidently to convert the penalty, restoring Barcelona’s lead. From there, the visitors never looked back, raising their intensity and putting on a clinic of attacking football.
Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old sensation, was at the heart of Barcelona’s third goal. His dazzling run down the right wing culminated in a sensational trivela assist, threading the ball through multiple defenders to Raphinha, who slotted home his second of the match. Yamal’s creativity and vision continue to set him apart as a generational talent, a cornerstone of Barcelona’s future.
Frankie de Jong, returning from injury, added a stunning fourth goal in the 79th minute with a rocket from outside the box. Moments later, he turned provider, delivering a perfect cutback for Pau Victor to score Barcelona’s fifth and finalize the rout. Mallorca, a side that had conceded more than one goal at home just once this season, were left helpless against Barcelona’s unrelenting attack.
This dominant performance restores confidence in the Blaugrana after a turbulent stretch and provides a solid foundation for their title ambitions. With Lamine Yamal and Raphinha leading the way in Robert Lewandowski’s absence, Barcelona look poised to build momentum in the coming weeks.