Tag: Barcelona vs Mallorca

BARCELONA: La Liga 2022/23 champions Barcelona put on a dominant show amid their 3-0 triumph over 10-man Mallorca while also saying goodbye to two club legends Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

Ansu Fati gave Barcelona the best possible start as he struck the opener within the first minute of the action after a great passing sequence down the middle, Robert Lewandowski found Gavi with a delicate backheel flick, who then gave Fati an easy finish.

The home side enhanced their domination over the 12th-placed Mallorca, who were reduced to 10 men after Amath Ndiaye was sent off for a horrific tackle that injured Alejandro Balde.

Spain international Fati then doubled Barcelona’s lead in the 24th minute at the back of an excellent passing by the home side. Barcelona veteran Robert Lewandowski once again played his part in his side’s goal as he set up Fati for an easy finish with a stunning assist.

The La Liga champions went into the break with a 2-0 advantage over Mallorca with Fati leading the chart with twin strikes.

The second half of the fixture featured almost similar domination by Barcelona as the hosts relentlessly made several attempts and created plenty of significant chances against depleted Mallorca’s defence but failed to convert their domination into the third brace.

Barcelona then finally got the reward in the 70th minute of their outstanding show after a brilliant pass from Ousmane Dembele that found Gavi inside the box, who fired a left-footed rocket into the top corner to finally give Barcelona a much-deserved goal.

Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets and defender Jordi Alba also played in their side’s 3-0 win over Mallorca at home for the last time, in the club’s penultimate fixture of the ongoing season, and received warm farewells from the crowd.

Meanwhile, in other La Liga fixtures, Real Sociedad succumbed to a 1-2 loss against Atletico Madrid and yet sealed Champions League qualification for the next season as Villarreal lost 1-2 against Rayo Vallecano.

Whereas, Espanyol was relegated from the top division as a result of Valencia’s Samuel Lino scoring a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time to draw the game level at 2-2.

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BARCELONA: The home side Barcelona took a big step towards securing a place in next season’s Champions League as a 2-1 victory over Real Mallorca on Sunday saw them reclaim the second spot in La Liga from Sevilla.

Goals in either half from Memphis Depay and Sergio Busquets put Xavi Hernandez’s men in control and they took the three points despite Antonio Raillo’s effort for their relegation-threatened opponents at the Camp Nou.

The Catalan giants move two points ahead of Sevilla and nine clear of fifth-placed Real Betis, who have a game in hand, with four matches to play this season.

Barca took the lead in the 25th minute as Memphis Depay made a clever run to collect Jordi Alba’s pass before thumping a fine half-volley into the bottom corner.

The Dutchman has scored 11 league goals since joining Barcelona from Lyon last summer, despite having struggled for a regular starting spot since the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal in January.

The hosts doubled their advantage nine minutes after the break as Sergio Busquets drove a low shot from the edge of the box into the net to score for the third time this season in all competitions, equalling his previous best goalscoring campaign.

Barca thought they had added a third in the 73rd minute, but Ferran Torres’ effort after a desperate goalmouth scramble was ruled out for an offside earlier in the move.

There was more to cheer for the home fans shortly afterwards as Ansu Fati came off the bench to make his first appearance after suffering a hamstring injury in January.

Mallorca ensured that their opponents would at least endure a nervy finale to the match, as Antonio Raillo pulled one back with 11 minutes remaining.

But Barcelona held on, leaving Mallorca only one point ahead of 18th-placed Granada, who drew 1-1 with Celta Vigo, in the fight to beat the drop.

Earlier, Real Sociedad suffered a blow in their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League, as Radamel Falcao grabbed Rayo Vallecano a 1-1 draw.

La Real looked set to move within three points of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid with four matches remaining when Alexander Sorloth gave them a first-half lead.

But Colombian veteran Falcao came off the bench in the 77th minute and scored less than a minute later to leave Sociedad five points off the top-four pace.

It was Falcao’s sixth league goal of an injury-hit season as the 36-year-old made his first appearance for Rayo since February.

Visitors Sociedad remain in sixth place after a third straight game without a win.

Real Betis can cut the gap to Atletico down to a single point on Monday when they travel to Getafe.

Real Madrid wrapped up the title on Saturday, ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City in midweek.

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