Raphinha Shines as Barcelona Overpowers Mallorca

Barcelona ended their three-game winless streak in emphatic fashion with a commanding 5-1 victory over Mallorca, inspired by a sensational performance from Brazilian forward Raphinha. The win extends Barcelona’s lead atop La Liga to four points over rivals Real Madrid.

Raphinha’s Decisive Contributions

After a tense first half that ended 1-1, Raphinha took charge in the second half. The turning point came in the 56th minute when the returning Lamine Yamal was fouled in the penalty area, setting up Raphinha to calmly convert from the spot.

Eighteen minutes later, Yamal showcased his flair with an exquisite outside-foot cross to find Raphinha, who slotted home his 11th league goal of the season. The two combined brilliantly, demonstrating why they are pivotal to Barcelona’s title charge.

A Team Effort Seals the Victory

Barcelona’s substitutes made an immediate impact, with Frenkie De Jong and Pau Victor adding two late goals within five minutes to put the game out of reach. These contributions underscored the depth of Hansi Flick’s squad, even with star striker Robert Lewandowski starting on the bench.

Ferran Torres also made his mark, capitalizing on a defensive error to give Barcelona an early 12th-minute lead. However, Mallorca responded just before halftime as Samu Costa’s precision pass unlocked Barcelona’s offside trap, allowing Pablo Maffeo to assist Vedat Muriqi for the equalizer.

Looking Ahead

Barcelona will now turn their attention to a challenging away fixture against Real Betis on Saturday. Meanwhile, Mallorca aims to regroup as they prepare for a crucial encounter with Celta Vigo.