FC Barcelona took all three points in their duel against RCD Mallorca thanks to a solitary goal from Dani Olmo, enough to maintain their lead in LaLiga with five games to go. In an attentive Camp Nou, Hansi Flick's men showed their superiority in the game, although they had to sweat more than they should have against a well-organized opponent that resisted as long as they could.
With the Clásico just around the corner and the Champions League also on the horizon, Barça played their part in a key matchday, although their lack of forcefulness left the result shorter than expected.
A Prizeless Domain in Part One
From the start, Barça turned on Mallorca's area, showing a clear offensive intent with men like Lamine Yamal, Ansu Fati and Dani Olmo very active in the opponent's field. The first serious warning was given by Ferran Torres, who forced goalkeeper Leo Román to make a great save. From then on, the chances came one after another, but all of them were met by an inspired Román who supported his team with some very meritorious interventions.
The visiting defense also multiplied to prevent the blue and white shots from ending up in the net. Dani Olmo had one of the clearest shots with a powerful shot that again found a response from the Balearic goalkeeper, while Gavi came close to scoring with a shot that crashed against the crossbar. Ronald Araujo, for his part, wasted a clear rebound near the goal.
Despite the siege, Barça failed to open the scoring before the break. Even Mallorca gave a little scare in the last breath of the first half, when Mateu Morey scored, although the goal was disallowed for offside. The first half ended with mixed sensations: a Culé dominance, but no advantage.
Olmo Makes The Difference After The Break
The story changed as soon as the second half got underway. In the 46th minute, a well-coordinated move down the right ended at the feet of Eric García, who sent a low cross into the area. Dani Olmo was on hand to calmly control the ball, take his shape and place it beyond Román's reach. It was a fair goal for what had been seen, but it also served to release the tension of the locals.
With the advantage on the scoreboard, Flick's team kept control of the game and could even have widened the gap shortly after. Ansu Fati tried with a strong shot that again found the Mallorca goalkeeper well positioned. Later, Raphinha and Fermín came on to give freshness to the attack, looking to close the game early.
However, the second goal never came. Despite the good combinations and the spaces that began to appear, Barça continued to crash against a Leo Román who signed one of his best performances of the season. Even Lamine Yamal had a very clear chance after a great pass from Pedri, but the one-on-one was resolved in favor of the visiting goalkeeper.
Mallorca Inquieta in the Final Stretch
With the score still open, Mallorca did not give up. Little by little, they were encouraged to approach the rival area, generating some dangerous actions that set off alarms in the culé public. Raíllo's header from a lateral cross went just wide, and another aerial shot by Larin also went close to the post.
Barça kept trying at the other end, but the goal of tranquility never came. Fermín and Eric García tried their luck in the final minutes, but without success. The defense also had to work hard to avoid any surprises from Jagoba Arrasate's team, who pushed forward in the final stretch and pressed harder than expected.
The final whistle came with relief for the home side, who picked up three important points in their fight for the title. Beyond the tight scoreline, the feeling is that Barcelona were superior for most of the game, but again struggled to convert their dominance into goals.
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A Key Victory Before A Decisive Leg
With this result, Barça remains firmly in first place in the table, with 76 points and seven points behind Real Madrid, who play today. The win also comes at a key moment in the calendar, as the azulgrana team prepares to play five matches in 16 days that could define its season.
The first will be the Clásico against Real Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey, followed by the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against Inter Milan. After that, they will turn their attention back to LaLiga against Real Valladolid and close the European series at the San Siro.
The duel against Mallorca served to maintain the competitive rhythm, but also made it clear that the team needs to improve in the definition if it wants to close this demanding stage with success. For the moment, Dani Olmo's goal and defensive solidity were enough to achieve what was necessary: to win and continue dreaming of the three titles.
