/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/PJIAVPTI6OXLHPN4HCQ6TSK3UY.jpg "FC Barcelona: A genius called Lamine Yamal decides against Mallorca | Soccer | Sports")
There are plays that are worth a game, like the one Lamine Yamal scored to defeat Rajkovic, when Barcelona mightn’t find a way to defeat Mallorca. The winger stood on the right side, very close to the top of the area, looked inwards and with the inside of his foot put the ball into the corner to the astonishment of Montjuïc. Barça experienced two youth players, Yamal and Cubarsí, the forward was brilliant in the opposing area and the defender was impressive in his own area, outstanding footballers in a disfigured team that wanders through the League from the Champions League couch, waiting for Naples. The striker’s virguería illuminated a dark and sad match due to the circumstances and also due to the robustness of Mallorca.
1
Ter Stegen, Íñigo Martínez, Pau Cubarsí, Cancelo, Koundé, A. Christensen, Raphinha (Fermín López, min. 37), Gündogan (Oriol Romeu, min. 86), Lamine Yamal, João Félix (Vitor Roque, min. 61) and Marc Guiu (Lewandowski, min. 61)
0
Predrag Rajkovic, Copete (Radonjic, 82 mins), Nastasic, Lato (Jaume Costa, 70 mins), Raillo, Giovanni Gonzalez, Darder (Antonio Sanchez, 70 mins), Samuel Costa, Manu Morlanes (Dani, 61 mins). ), Muriqi and Cyle Larin (Abdon Prats, min. 82)
Goals 1-0 min. 73: Lamine Yamal.
Referee Javier Iglesias Villanueva
Yellow cards Íñigo Martínez (min. 52) and Samuel Costa (min. 85)
It was not easy to align the lineup due to injuries, Araujo’s suspension, the San Mamés trigger and the demands of Tuesday’s match once morest Naples and Sunday’s match once morest Atlético. The context gave rise to many speculations, none in any case contemplated the ownership of Marc Guiu ahead of Vitor Roque in Lewandowski’s position, with the Pole warned of a sanction before traveling to the Metropolitano. Barça played with four attackers, a single midfielder (Gündogan) and three youth players: Cubarsí, Yamal and Guiu. A strange team, with some players outside their natural demarcation, facing a very well-structured rival with three centre-backs, three centre-halfs and two forwards: Larin and Muriqi.
Mallorca’s physique did not intimidate the Barça youngsters. Cubarsí’s name already resonates in Montjuïc —“Yes, yes, Cubarsí!”, sings the stands— and Marc Guiu fought like a wild boar once morest a tough scoreboard like Raíllo. He still didn’t come into play, however, Lamine. The Blaugrana advanced in a group and weaved the game with a good frequency of passes without disarming Mallorca, a team that tends to occupy spaces very well, a wall once morest Rajkovic. Barça lacked dribbling, imbalance and surprise, until Yamal enabled Raphinha with a touch, always better at unmarking than at finishing, knocked down in his run by Copete.
With Lewandowski absent, the penalty was taken poorly by Gündogan and rejected by Rajkovic. The play, which also caused Raphinha’s injury, disrupted a match that had had no plays of merit or any other chance than Gündogan’s failure. Although no one hit the shot, the attempts began to happen in both goals, especially in that of Ter Stegen, repeatedly challenged by Larin. Mallorca’s quick transitions forced Barcelona’s difficult retreats. The team led by Óscar Hernández was not happy in the absence of the suspended Xavi. The fans became impatient and came to half-time with some whistles in Montjuïc.
The last play was a tackle by Yamal on Muriqi in the area that neither the referee nor the Var reviewed, despite the Mallorca forward’s complaints. The repeated counterattacks by Aguirre’s boys were more dangerous than Barça’s attacks. In the absence of attackers, the best Barça players were the defenders, nothing new if you review the San Mamés match. Neither Gündogan nor João Félix made a difference, while Cubarsi held firm once morest Muriqi and Larin. There was nothing more to tell for a long time, except for a left-footed shot by Lamine once morest the crossbar in an action invalidated by Villanueva. Óscar and Xavi had no choice but to take risks and release Lewandowski and Vitor Roque.
The round of changes woke up Barcelona. The team had more presence and aggressiveness, and found the finesse and precession necessary to unbalance the match on Lamine’s left foot. The winger received from Lewandowski, braked, gained the space to create the shot with a cut over Dani Rodríguez and crossed a perfect and unstoppable thread to the right of Rajkovic. Yamal’s appearances and Cubarsí’s mettle resolved the match that complicated celebrities like Gündogan and João Félix.
In the absence of quality, fluidity and control, the outcome and the plot helped to remember at least old times in Barcelona. They won once more 1-0, the result that allowed them to win the last League, starting with Ter Stegen and Lewandowski. Now Cubarsí and Yamal decide.
