Barcelona managed to overcome their difficulties in front of goal to open up a seven-point advantage over Real Madrid at the summit of La Liga. This was achieved with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Mallorca on Tuesday, a game in which they remarkably registered 40 attempts on goal. Inspired by Dani Olmo`s crucial contribution and some solid saves from Wojciech Szczesny, the Catalan side secured all three points, winning their first match since Robert Lewandowski was sidelined with a muscular injury.
With Ferran Torres starting up front in Lewandowski`s absence, the attack was prolific in terms of volume, taking 24 shots in the first half alone, five of which were on target, resulting in an expected goals (xG) value of 1.94. It often felt like a display of near misses, with Barcelona players seemingly using the game for shooting practice but finding the target elusive. However, with significant squad rotation implemented, partly with the upcoming Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid on Saturday in mind, some inefficiency was perhaps anticipated.
Several key players, including Raphinha, Fermin Lopez, Frenkie de Jong, and Jules Kounde, began the match on the bench, while Alejandro Balde joined Lewandowski on the injury list. This lineup was a notable departure from Barcelona`s standard configuration, which was evident in how players attempted shots from various positions across the pitch. Lamine Yamal alone accounted for 10 shots. Overall, Barcelona put 13 of their 40 efforts on target, amassing an xG of 3.41. The deadlock was finally broken shortly after the second half commenced when Dani Olmo scored the decisive goal, earning his team the crucial victory.
Having faced challenges with registration issues that have limited his availability and also dealt with injuries, Olmo has not had extensive opportunities to showcase his full capabilities for Barcelona. However, in Lewandowski`s absence, he emerges as a player who must perform at a high level for the team to continue winning matches.
Ferran Torres Leading the Line
With Ferran Torres operating as the main striker, Barcelona`s attacking approach showed distinct variations. His movement and interplay in channels with Olmo proved difficult for Mallorca`s defense to track throughout the game. Although Torres has primarily been deployed on the wing this season due to Lewandowski`s presence, this match was a strong performance from him in the central role, even without finding the net himself. Given the rotation, this fixture likely also served as a valuable tactical rehearsal for coach Flick ahead of their encounter with Real Madrid.
The combination of Raphinha, Olmo, Yamal, and Torres provides Barcelona with ample attacking talent to trouble Real Madrid. A team doesn`t generate 40 scoring opportunities purely by chance, and if Barcelona can replicate that level of chance creation this weekend, they stand a strong chance of winning. By securing their win, they have transferred the pressure onto Real Madrid, who now must win their match against Getafe on Wednesday to keep the La Liga title race tightly contested. Even if Torres doesn`t score, his effectiveness lies in his work rate, which helps create space and freedom for those around him. According to defender Eric Garcia, the extensive rotation did not negatively impact the team`s performance, particularly as they maintained a clean sheet.
“We still created a lot of chances. It`s one of those games where if one doesn`t go in, we need to keep going, and that`s also what we did for the whole game,” Garcia commented after the match.
Looking Ahead
Coach Flick has successfully managed the difficult task of protecting his players from overload while also securing wins, guiding them to victory in their last two La Liga matches before the important Copa del Rey final and Champions League semifinals. Exiting the Mallorca match with three points and no new injuries was a key objective and further highlights Flick`s effective management in his first season at the helm of Barcelona. While Flick boasts top-tier attackers, the depth players also appear well-integrated and understand the German coach`s system, showing the team`s readiness even with rotation.
With a potential treble still in sight, more work is needed, but Barcelona has the chance to claim the first trophy on Saturday and has taken another significant step towards securing the La Liga title with their victory on Tuesday.
La Liga Standings
| TEAM | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| 1. Barcelona | 33 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 89 | 32 | +57 | 76 |
| 2. Real Madrid | 32 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 65 | 31 | +34 | 69 |
Title Race: Remaining Schedule
1. FC Barcelona — 76 points (Correction based on table, 76 points, not 73 as listed in original text)
- Real Valladolid (Away)
- Real Madrid (Home)
- Espanyol (Away)
- Villarreal (Home)
- Athletic Club (Away)
2. Real Madrid — 69 points
- Getafe (Away)
- Celta Vigo (Home)
- FC Barcelona (Away)
- Mallorca (Home)
- Sevilla (Away)
- Real Sociedad (Home)
