In a thrilling La Liga encounter, Barcelona secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mallorca, propelling themselves to second place in the league standings. The match, characterized by tense moments and missed opportunities, culminated in a spectacular late winner by 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal.
Barcelona’s dominance was evident from the start, with winger Raphinha earning a penalty after being fouled in the box. However, summer signing Ilkay Gundogan’s penalty was denied by Mallorca’s goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic, setting the stage for a tightly contested battle.
Yamal, showing maturity beyond his years, came close to breaking the deadlock early in the second half, striking the crossbar with a powerful effort. Despite Mallorca’s resilience, Barcelona continued to press forward, with Marc Guiu also thwarted by Rajkovic.
With the game hanging in the balance, Barcelona introduced substitutes Vitor Roque and Robert Lewandowski in a bid to find the breakthrough. It was Yamal, though, who delivered the decisive moment of brilliance, exchanging passes with Lewandowski before unleashing a sublime strike from outside the box that nestled into the far corner.
The goal marked Yamal’s sixth of the season and showcased his burgeoning talent on the grand stage. His heroics not only secured three crucial points for Barcelona but also reaffirmed his status as one of the brightest prospects in Spanish football.
Barcelona’s victory, coupled with their unbeaten run in recent matches, underscores their resurgence under coach Xavi. As they continue to climb the league table, Barcelona’s youthful exuberance and attacking flair have reignited hopes of a successful campaign.