Barcelona have extended their lead at the top of the La Liga table, but only by a point. They drew with Mallorca at Son Moix, although they did come from behind twice in order to avoid defeat.
Xavi Hernandez rotated his side after just a three-day gap between the Celta Vigo match and this one, and the changes did not have the desired effect as Mallorca took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes. A defensive mix-up followed Vedat Muriqi to score for the third consecutive match.
Barcelona were able to draw level after 41 minutes. The ball broke to Raphinha 25 yards out, and his shot flew into the back of the net. However, the Catalans were only level for a few minutes, and Mallorca re-took the lead in stoppage time at the end of the first half courtesy of Abdon Prats.
Barcelona huffed and puffed in the second half, and they were able to equalise for the second time. Raphinha’s cutback came to Fermin Lopez 10 yards out, and the 20-year-old fired home to score his first goal for the club.
Despite seven minutes being added on, Barcelona were unable to find a winner. It means that Girona or Real Madrid can go top of La Liga, with both sides playing tomorrow against Villarreal and Las Palmas respectively.
Gave up the ball WAY too many times; it wasn’t just the sloppy play that led to the two goals; 70 per cent possession is a mirage when you’re constantly giving it away and having to win it back. Xavi will not be happy about that. Gotta finish better too; missed a couple that should have been converted.
Didn’t play very well, but still should have won. Need to be better and sharper against Sevilla.
Should have won that one, but didn’t. On to Sevilla.
The vast majority of barca players let xavi down last night imo,there was absolutely nothing wrong with xavis rotations,lineup or formation the team selected with all due respect to mallorca should have won and won easily,the yamal penalty was not a penalty imo and was rightly overturned,the only players who performed or turned up last night for barca imo were gavi,raphina from the start and kounde,yamal,lopez,lewandowski when they came on the rest of them were average at best and that’s me being kind.