Barça beat Mallorca and gets closer to the Champions League

Barça goalkeeper Ter Stegen / @ EP

The FC Barcelona beat Mallorca 0-1 on the nineteenth day of the domestic competition and finished the first round in fifth position. Xavi Hernández’s men have climbed positions in the table and this time they did so thanks to a lone goal from Luuk de Jong and a providential save from Ter Stegen to Jaume Costa in injury time.

For this Sunday’s game, FC Barcelona had eighteen casualties; some of them due to injury and others due to Covid-19. But despite that, they knew they had to seize the opportunity as their direct rivals had stumbled in their previous matches. And they did so, looking for the gaps to reach the rival goal.

Mallorca, also affected by the losses, wanted to take advantage of the cons. And that did not prevent them from getting more than a scare when the ball hit the wood of the goal twice. After, in the minute, L. de Jong managed to raise the score a bit; the only one of the party.

Despite that to the goal, the game was not controlled and Mallorca tried to tie with several centers that could not find a finisher. Until added time arrived and Costa was left alone against Ter Stegen. But the Barça goalkeeper took the ball out to give his team three points with that stop..

Thus, Barça placed fifth on the table, a much better situation than the one they had just a couple of months ago with Koeman on the bench. And although he has not yet found his game and despite being loaded with casualties, he managed to show his face. Competing for first place and taking the league away from Real Madrid does not seem realistic, but it is realistic to get into the Champions League and this Sunday they were already at their doorstep.

DATASHEET

MALLORCA, 0 – FC BARCELONA, 1. (0-1, at halftime).

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