Barcelona’s emphatic 5-1 win over Mallorca at the Estadi de Son Moix on December 3 solidified their position at the top of LaLiga, extending their lead over Real Madrid to four points. Despite a determined effort from Mallorca in the first half, Barcelona’s superior quality shone through in the second period, with standout performances from several key players.
Match Highlights
- Early Dominance: Ferran Torres opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
- Equalizer: Vedat Muriqi leveled for Mallorca just before halftime, converting a Pablo Maffeo assist.
- Second Half Surge:
- Raphinha restored the lead with a penalty early in the second half and added another goal later, assisted by Lamine Yamal.
- Frenkie de Jong made a significant impact off the bench, scoring in the 79th minute and assisting Pau Victor in the 84th minute to cap off the rout.
Player Performances
Star Performers
- Raphinha (9/10):
- Two goals, including a composed penalty conversion.
- Four key passes and significant involvement in Barcelona’s attacking play.
- Frenkie de Jong (8.5/10):
- Game-changing substitution with a goal and an assist.
- Demonstrated leadership and creativity in midfield during his brief appearance.
- Lamine Yamal (7.5/10):
- Provided an assist and showcased his dribbling ability, completing five take-ons.
- A constant threat on the right wing.
Other Notable Performances
- Ferran Torres (7.5/10):
- Scored the opener and kept Mallorca’s defense under pressure with his movement and attempts.
- Inigo Martinez (7/10):
- Commanding defensive presence, winning seven duels and making seven clearances.
- Dani Olmo and Pedri (7/10 each):
- Controlled the midfield with precise passing and strong defensive contributions.
Substitutes
- Pau Victor (7.5/10):
- Came on late but made an immediate impact by scoring the fifth goal.
- Eric Garcia, Gavi, Fermin Lopez (N/A):
- Played too few minutes to receive a rating.
Team Performance
Barcelona dominated possession (65%) and displayed efficient passing and movement to dismantle Mallorca’s defense. The victory underscores their ability to capitalize on set-pieces, penalties, and creative build-up play. With a four-point cushion at the top of LaLiga, Barcelona’s focus will now turn to maintaining consistency in their title chase.
Their next challenge comes against Girona, as they aim to keep their momentum and extend their lead further.
