Barcelona back to winning ways with 1-5 win over Mallorca

FC Barcelona returned to form in style with a dominant 5-1 win against Real Mallorca, putting an end to their recent struggles in La Liga. The victory, their first in four matches, helped the Catalan giants regain a four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the table, though Madrid still has two games in hand.

Early breakthrough and first-half setback

Barcelona started the match with intent and was rewarded in the 12th minute. Ferran Torres, stepping in for the rested Robert Lewandowski, capitalized on a defensive error by Mallorca, calmly slotting the ball into the net after intercepting a poor clearance. Despite their dominance, Barcelona failed to capitalize further and paid the price just before halftime when Vedat Muriqi equalized with a powerful header, leaving the teams level at the break.

Second-half brilliance

The second half saw Barcelona shift into high gear. Raphinha reclaimed the lead in the 53rd minute, converting a penalty with precision after a foul in the box. The Brazilian then showcased his finishing skills again in the 74th minute, scoring a clinical third for Barcelona after a dazzling outside-of-the-foot assist from Lamine Yamal.

Key contributions from the bench

Midfield reinforcements sealed the deal for Barcelona. Frenkie de Jong, who came off the bench in the 72nd minute, quickly made his presence felt. The Dutchman scored Barcelona’s fourth goal, firing home on the rebound following another brilliant pass from Yamal. Minutes later, de Jong turned provider, delivering a perfect ball to Pau Víctor, who rounded off the scoring with a composed finish to make it 5-1.

A turnaround in form

This commanding victory was exactly what Barcelona needed after a string of disappointing results that had put their La Liga lead under pressure. Coach Hansi Flick will be pleased with his team’s response, particularly the impact of players like Raphinha, Yamal, and de Jong.

Title race heats up

With Real Madrid set to play two games in hand, Barcelona knows they cannot afford any more slip-ups. However, this performance sends a strong message to their rivals. The combination of attacking depth, creativity, and impactful substitutions could prove crucial as the season progresses.