Mallorca 0-Barcelona 1 | Luuk’s last serve

The cruelty of the fan against Luuk de Jong had in Mallorca the response expected from a professional who has been denigrated in an ominous way. The one that probably was the last service of the striker to Barcelona was to win a game that causes the Blaugrana team to cStart the second round as fifth classified within one point of the Champions League. Barça won 0-1 in Mallorca in a game in which the culé coach had to pull a mix of youth, veterans and homeless. And that Luuk de Jong, he decided.

Xavi came out to play the game he did not want to play with a defense of four centrals in which the Catalan coach opted for Mingueza’s ability to progress through his natural band sacrificing Araújo as an improvised left back. A success for the Barcelona coach, because in the first half the Uruguayan kept the type and Mingueza was a dagger of precise centers on the right.

Given the casualties that the Blaugrana team had, it was up to Frenkie de Jong will be the anchor of the team without standing out, leaving aside that he happened to be in charge of taking the corners as if he were playing badminton. At his side, Nico left his skin as an interior and Riqui wasted what had to be his golden opportunity.

Barça, who started with an unimaginable forward six months ago formed by Jutglà, Ilias and Luuk de Jong he dominated the starting game, but he lacked references to finish the job. As an example, it is worth saying that the first foul near Manolo Reina’s area that involved a certain danger was kicked (with dignity) by Gerard Piqué. For the bracelet and nothing else.

Faced with the hustle and bustle that Ilias and Jutglè brought, which was diluted when entering to kill, something logical considering their age. the responsibility of producing the attack rested with Luuk de Jong. ANDThe Dutchman at four minutes tried his first shot, which was a monumental blunder, but the guy is a professional who contrasts with other better-endowed players on the squad who are uwe unburdened.

De Jong kept trying and in a minute shot the post twice. One went to a filtered pass from Riqui and the second was a huge shot from a Chilean that almost knocked the crossbar into the center of Mingueza.

Another would have been depressed, but Luuk noticed that he intimidated the Balearic defense, which was beaten by the action in a new center in Mingueza in the 44th minute when he scored with his head before the reluctant departure of Reina.

Mallorca, who lost Kubo in the run-up to the match, only created danger in the first half on corner kicks that they managed to force after recovering after loss. But the party seemed controlled by the Catalans.

At the beginning of the second part, Mallorca showed their fang and Barça seemed to fall into the trap of accepting a round trip.

The scene of madness led Luis García Plaza to raise his bet with the entry of Galarreta and Fer Niño. Mallorca put all the meat on the grill, an option that Barça, seeing the bench they had, could not contemplate with certainty of success. The first change for Barça came, on the other hand, due to some annoyances from Nico, who left his position to Álvaro Sanz, who made his debut in the First Division. The same happened with Mingueza, who left his place to Lenglet.

Xavi, seeing the team exhausted, made 18-year-old Estanis Pedrola debut for a blown Ilias.

A Barça full of children who have been playing the Brunete Tournament for nothing, only had to entrust themselves to the veterans, who were in the movies. Ter Stegen took the paradón that is waiting for him in 91, Piqué was everywhere and Luuk, out of breath, fought all the balls to start the new path of a renewed Barça. The culé team ran the danger of thinking more about the future than the present, but a Luuk de Jong, who is almost past, paved the way.