In a surprising turn of events, RCD Mallorca managed to secure their first La Liga point against Barcelona since 2010, thanks to a vital goal from Abdón Prats. The Pirates’ unexpected result not only brought relief to manager Javier Aguirre but also ended Barcelona’s winning streak of 11 H2H meetings.
Considering the congested fixture list, Xavi, the Barcelona coach, made a strategic decision to rest some of his key players for Tuesday’s match against Mallorca at the Iberostar Stadium. Sensing an opportunity, Aguirre’s side started the game with great intensity and took an early lead when Vedat Muriqi capitalized on Marc-André ter Stegen’s mistake to score the hosts’ first competitive goal at home in months.
Barcelona struggled to find their rhythm and it took them almost 40 minutes to register their first shot on target. However, a moment of brilliance from Raphinha changed the tide as he darted inside from the right flank and fired a stunning shot into the bottom corner. Mallorca had no answer to this display of quality.
The game remained intense, and just before half-time, Prats once again turned the tables by meeting Muriqi’s flick-on and restoring Mallorca’s lead. With a lead in hand, Mallorca knew they had to be cautious as Barcelona possessed the capability to strike back at any moment.
True to their reputation, Barcelona came out strong in the second half. João Félix mesmerized everyone with a long-range shot that left the Mallorca goalkeeper rooted to the spot, but unfortunately for Barcelona, it hit the post and bounced away. With the clock ticking, Xavi had no choice but to bring in the big guns, including Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal, in the hope of turning the game in their favor.
However, it was Fermín López, a relatively unknown player, who stole the show in the dying moments of the match. He capitalized on Raphinha’s cut-back and calmly slotted the ball into the net, securing his first goal for Barcelona. Mallorca may not have clinched the victory, but the night will be etched in their memories as they halted Barcelona’s winning streak and climbed to 15th in the La Liga standings.
Looking ahead, Barcelona will be eager to regain their dominance as they gear up for exciting clashes against Sevilla and FC Porto. The team will need to rediscover their devastating form to maintain their position at the top.