FC Barcelona can go into the Champions League round of 16 second leg against SSC Napoli with the wind at their backs. A stroke of genius from Lamine Yamal was enough for the Catalans to win the game against RCD Mallorca
For FC Barcelona, four new players were on the pitch compared to the 0-0 draw at Athletic Bilbao. Inigo Martinez, Lamine Yamal, Guiu and Joao Felix started in place of Araujo (yellow card), the injured de Jong and Pedri and Lewandowski (bench).
For the visitors, coach Javier Aguirre brought on ex-Schalker Nastasic, Darder, Samuel Costa and Manu Morlanes for Valjent (injured), Mascarell (yellow card suspension), Antonio Sanchez and Dani Rodriguez (bench) after the 1-0 win against FC Girona.
Barca lack ideas – Gündogan misses from the spot
As expected, the home side had more of the ball from the start. However, it was immediately apparent that the Catalans were struggling to find space against the well-organized Mallorca side. Apart from a harmless shot from Koundé (4th), there was a lack of action in front of goal.
After 20 minutes, Lamine Yamal set up Raphinha with a great pass. The Brazilian went to ground after being hit by Copate. After the VAR intervened, the referee Javier Iglesias Villanueva pointed to the spot. Gündogan grabbed the ball but missed miserably (24′). The visitors repeatedly made pinpricks (31′, 34′), but they lacked the coolness in front of goal.
Joao Felix, who was largely impassive, fired his long-range shot just wide of the target (35′) and Manu Morales headed into the arms of ter Stegen – celebrating his 400th competitive game in a Blaugrana shirt – at the other end (38′), meaning both teams went into the half-time break goalless, accompanied by whistles from some Barca supporters.
Lamine Yamal scores fantastically
The ideas were lacking for a long time after the break too. Lamine Yamal’s best chance came when Mallorca goalkeeper Rajkovic fumbled a cross. However, the Serbian keeper was on the spot again to turn the 16-year-old’s powerful shot onto the crossbar with his fingertips (57′).
Mallorca now focused more on defending, but apart from a header against the crossbar that was whistled back for offside, they hardly got a chance to develop. Neither did Barca – until the 73rd minute, when Lamine Yamal once again showed his immense talent by flicking the ball into the corner.
The final phase was characterized by a lot of niggles, Mallorca were not satisfied with the 0:1, but lacked the punch up front, so that in the end it remained a deserved, albeit not entirely convincing victory for FC Barcelona.
The Catalans host SSC Napoli in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday, while Mallorca take on FC Granada next Saturday (2pm).
