The Barça fulfills in the return of Ansu Fati
Those of Xavi, second alone after beating an undemanding Mallorca
MADRID, 1 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Barça beat Mallorca (2-1) this Sunday on matchday 34 of LaLiga Santander held at the Camp Nou, where the culé fans celebrated a comfortable victory to be second alone and Ansu Fati’s return after injury, despite that the Balearic Islands cut back in the final stretch without much more danger.
Xavi Hernández’s team took advantage of Sevilla’s draw to take second place with 66 points, to 64 for the Andalusians and 61 for Atlético. Meanwhile, on a day in which everyone from below joined, Mallorca continues to depend on itself to save itself, but sees the relegation zone at one point.
Barça had a fairly placid game in front of their fans, after three consecutive defeats that left them without juicy goals this season. Second place is what Xavi’s team has left and this Sunday they left motivated, not like against Rayo. Mallorca, with its three central defenders and an advanced back line, left a lot of space behind that the locals took full advantage of.
Memphis, who played one of his best games with Barça, opened the scoring around the half hour mark, and in the second half, Busquets made it 2-0. With some relaxation, the festive atmosphere due to the entry into the final stretch of an Ansu Fati back four months later, Raíllo closed the gap in a great cross from Salva Sevilla.
With 10 minutes to go, Javier Aguirre’s team took it too calmly and did not worry a Barça that, with a little more demand, would have seen the ghosts of the last games. The ‘Champions’ is on track for a Barça team that began warning with Aubameyang after five minutes.
Ferran, also behind the central defenders, had his own, while Fer Niño was able to surprise the Catalans with a good combination from Aguirre’s men. Araújo scored offside, but immediately afterwards, in another hollow piece found by Memphis, the Dutchman beat Sergio Rico (1-0). At that moment, Piqué asked for the change, again resentful of the inconvenience he drags.
Antonio Sánchez had the last for Mallorca, in a counterattack that could have been more dangerous. The resumption was also from Barça, or rather from a highly motivated Memphis. Ferran crashed into the post and Busquets, picking up a rebound on the edge, made it 2-0 with his left foot. Xavi’s team forgave the win, with Ferran denied in another goal disallowed for offside.
The Camp Nou celebrated the return of Ansu Fati but the Spanish international had no chance to shine. Instead, Barça had to focus on the back after losing 2-1 to Raíllo. Xavi’s team didn’t have to suffer either, as they close in on the goal of being in the next Champions League and doing so as second, after Real Madrid already celebrated the league title on Saturday.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: FC BARCELONA, 2 – RCD MALLORCA, 1. (1-0, at halftime).
–ALIGNMENTS.
FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Alves (Lenglet, min. 89), Araujo, Piqué (Eric Garcia, min. 28), Jordi Alba; Busquets, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi; Adama, Aubameyang (Dembélé, min.75) and Ferran Torres (Ansu Fati, min.75).
RCD MALLORCA: Sergio Rico; Maffeo, Russo, Raíllo, Valjent, Oliván; Sánchez (Kang-in, min.70), Battaglia (Save Sevilla, min.70); Ángel (Hoppe, min.89), Niño (Kubo, min.59) and Dani Rodríguez (Grenier, min.60).
–GOALS:
1 – 0, min.25, Memphis.
2 – 0, min.54, Busquets.
2 – 1, Min.79, Raíllo.
–REFEREE: González Fuertes (C.Asturiano). He admonished Gavi (min.35) and Alba (min.91) by Barça. And to Raíllo (min.63), Grenier (min.64) and Maffeo (min.91) in Mallorca.
–STADIO: Camp Nou.