FC Barcelona end their clash against Mallorca at the Montjuic Stadium with a 1-0 victory. Only one man ended up being the difference maker, and that man himself is hardly at an age to be called that. At the end of the day, three points is what Barcelona came for and that is what they take away.
Somewhat of a snooze fest for most of the game’s duration, the clash truly took off in the second half. Both sides clashed to take away what they needed from the encounter, but it was ultimately all thanks to Lamine Yamal and his heroic goal that captured all three points for Xavi’s Barcelona.
Here is how the Barcelona players fared in the game.
Player Ratings:
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen: 7.0
While the German shot-stopper did not have much to worry about, he handled the efforts that did come his way. Ultimately, however, the important thing for him will be the clean sheet and the victory to complement it.
Joao Cancelo: 7.0
The Portuguese fullback was once again putting on a proper show for Barcelona. His flicks, tricks, and moments of magic conjured up some good openings for Barcelona.
Inigo Martinez: 7.0
A more than capable defender in his own right, but his partnership with Pau Cubarsi is especially strong. Even in moments of chaos, both the Spaniards complimented each other’s positioning well and dealt with Mallorca’s threats in a mature fashion.
Pau Cubarsi: 8.5
For most, Pau Cubarsi would be the indisputable man of the match for Barcelona. Despite his age just being 17 years old, Cubarsi continues to play with the brain of a hardened veteran. Coupled with his technical brilliance and well-timed tackles, the young defender is a true star in the making.
Jules Kounde: 6.5
The French defender had a solid outing once again on the flank. His recovery runs were key to helping Barcelona maintain the cleansheet. Moreover, the support he relentlessly provided to Lamine Yamal also helped out the young 16-year-old a lot.
Andreas Christensen: 7.0
Whenever his teammates in the midfield seemed to lack stability, Andreas Christensen was there to cover those flaws. His defensive contributions allowed Barcelona to continue making smooth transitions and minimize the damage caused by Mallorca’s own transitions.
Ilkay Gundogan: 5.0
Arguably one of his worst performances for Barcelona, Ilkay Gundogan just seemed too sluggish. Both of the two best opportunities for Barcelona came his way, one of which was a penalty kick, and he managed to squander them both. Moreover, his final pass and judgment of play was also just not on the level it typically is.
Raphinha: 6.5
Some promising moments from the Brazilian forward showed a Raphinha who was quite determined. Unfortunately, the consequence of the penalty that he earned for the team was that the player himself had to be replaced early on.
Joao Felix: 6.0
In terms of influence, Joao Felix was almost invisible in the game. Throughout his time on the field, he felt like the least active forward for Barcelona as well as the least impactful.
Marc Guiu: 6.5
The young Spaniard had some solid moments and opportunities during the time he was on the field. However, despite the lack of clear chances he got, Marc Guiu had the guts to try some unique things that could have worked out on another day. Solid outing.
Lamine Yamal: 8.0
Very few words can describe what a player Lamine Yamal has turned out to be. Even by the wildest of standards, this particular wonderkid is in a league of his own. Courtesy of his extraordinary goal, Barcelona ended up taking away all they came into the game for.
Substitutes:
Fermin Lopez: 6.5
Introduced early on to replace Raphinha in the midfield, Fermin Lopez did well from start to finish. The young Spaniard managed to show both heart and unstoppable tenacity, and it helped Barcelona a lot in maintaining their momentum.
Robert Lewandowski: 6.0
His maturity ended up feeling like an entirely new kind of asset after he replaced Marc Guiu. Robert Lewandowski managed to constantly win fouls for the team but also had solid linkup with his teammates. Good cameo for the prolific Pole. He will also be credited for assisting Yamal’s wonder goal.
Vitor Roque: 7.0
Since his arrival into the game, perhaps no one instilled as much confidence into this Barcelona team as much as Vitor Roque. His off-the-ball movements, and vicious attempts at goal no matter how unlikely the chance may be, the Brazilian forward had some real moments of magic that had the crowd on their feet.
Oriol Romeu: N/A
Not enough time or influence in the game to warrant a rating.
