Following a dramatic comeback win against Celta Vigo over the weekend, Barcelona`s demanding schedule continues as they host Mallorca on Tuesday afternoon. With the La Liga title race ongoing, coach Hansi Flick faces decisions about squad rotation ahead of the Copa del Rey final on Saturday. Barcelona will meet Real Madrid in a Clasico, but currently holding only a four-point lead in La Liga, they cannot afford to look too far ahead.
This match will also be the first time Barcelona plays without Robert Lewandowski. The prolific Polish forward has been in exceptional form, scoring 37 goals across all competitions this season, but he is now ruled out for at least the next three matches due to a `left semitendinosus injury.` With important Copa del Rey and Champions League semifinals approaching, Barcelona must adapt their attack. This likely means Ferran Torres will feature as the striker. Alongside Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, Barcelona still possesses significant attacking threat, but the compressed schedule makes it challenging, as Flick cannot risk playing his key players for the entirety of the upcoming 270 minutes or more.
Match Details
- Date: Tuesday, April 22
- Location: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys — Barcelona, Spain
- Live stream: ESPN+
- Odds: Barcelona -450; Draw +525; Mallorca +1100
Storylines
Barcelona: With Lewandowski`s injury, Flick immediately backed Torres for the forward role but is also concerned about the fitness of other players in the lead-up to the match. From midfielders like Frenkie De Jong and Pedri to even Yamal and Raphinha, there are critical pieces in the lineup that need to be fit for Barcelona to have a chance at winning the Copa del Rey, but first is Tuesday`s league fixture.
“He`s very important. That we also manage this. He`s in a very good moment in his career, he`s scored ten goals in La Liga. And I think nine is the right position for him,” Flick said about Torres. “What he shows though too, he`s a fast player, but he can also control the ball, give us [lots] when we defend. But we also have to manage him, because we need him until the end of the season.”
Mallorca sits seventh in the league behind their stout defense and could end up in a European place when it is all said and done which is why Barcelona will need to do their best to balance getting points with player safety.
Mallorca: Allowing one or fewer goals in eight of their last 10 matches says a lot about how hard it is to score against Mallorca. While they have historically been easier to defeat away from home, a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad on April 12 shows that this trend might be changing. Facing Barcelona presents an entirely different challenge, and a team needs to maintain focus for the full 90 minutes, as Celta Vigo recently learned. However, if Mallorca aspires to European competition, this match offers a significant opportunity to make a statement.
Predicted Lineups
Barcelona: Wojciech Szczesny, Gerrard Martin, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, Ferran Torres
Mallorca: Dominik Greif, Johan Mojica, Jose Copete, Antonio Raillo, Martin Valjent, Mateu Morey, Sergi Darder, Samu, Omar Mascarell, Antonio Sanchez, Cyle Larin
Prediction
Despite the absence of Lewandowski, Barcelona`s attack still boasts enough talent that Mallorca will likely struggle to even get out of their own half consistently. Even if they fall behind, Barcelona`s recent performances demonstrate a strong mentality and ability to fight their way back into matches. For these reasons, it is difficult to foresee anything other than a comfortable home victory for Barcelona.
Pick: Barcelona 3, Mallorca 1
