Barcelona Build Seven-Point Lead on Real Madrid Ahead of El Clasico, Put Up 40 Shots in Narrow 1-0 Victory

Barcelona secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Mallorca on Tuesday, moving seven points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga standings. Despite registering an astonishing 40 shots during the match, Barça struggled with their finishing touch. The win was powered by Dani Olmo`s decisive goal and strong goalkeeping from Wojciech Szczesny for Mallorca. This marked Barcelona`s first match without their key striker, Robert Lewandowski, who was sidelined with a muscular injury.

Ferran Torres replaced Lewandowski in the starting lineup, and the team`s attack was relentless, taking 24 shots in the first half alone, with five on target and an expected goals (xG) figure of 1.94. It often seemed like a shooting practice session with numerous near misses. However, significant squad rotation was expected, as the team had one eye on the upcoming Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid scheduled for Saturday.

Several regular starters, including Raphinha, Fermin Lopez, Frenkie de Jong, and Jules Kounde, began the match on the bench, in addition to the injured Alejandro Balde and Lewandowski. This was clearly not Barcelona`s typical lineup, which perhaps contributed to players taking shots from various positions on the pitch. Lamine Yamal alone took 10 shots. Overall, Barcelona managed to put 13 of their 40 shots on target, resulting in a total xG of 3.41. Nevertheless, shortly after the second half commenced, Dani Olmo netted the winning goal to clinch all three points.

Dani Olmo has faced registration issues that have limited his playing time with the squad, alongside dealing with injuries. Without Lewandowski, he is a player whose contribution will be vital for Barcelona to secure wins.

A Different Number Nine

With Ferran Torres leading the attack as a central forward, there were noticeable differences in Barcelona`s offensive play. He fluidly interchanged positions with Olmo, creating problems for Mallorca`s defense throughout the match. Although Torres has primarily played on the wing this season due to Lewandowski`s presence, he delivered a strong performance despite not scoring. Given the rotation, this match served somewhat as a tactical exercise for Coach Hansi Flick, exploring different attacking approaches ahead of the Real Madrid clash.

With attacking options like Raphinha, Olmo, Yamal, and Torres, Barcelona possess enough firepower to challenge Real Madrid. Creating 40 chances is no accident, and if Barcelona can replicate that attacking volume on Saturday, they should be in a strong position to win. Their victory against Mallorca has transferred the pressure back to Real Madrid, who must win their match against Getafe on Wednesday to keep the La Liga title race competitive. Even if Torres isn`t scoring, his high work rate ensures that those around him have the space and freedom needed to perform, highlighting his value.

According to defender Eric Garcia, the squad rotation did not significantly impact the team`s overall performance, especially considering they kept a clean sheet. “We still created a lot of chances,” Garcia commented after the match. “It`s one of those games where if one doesn`t go in, we need to keep going, and that`s also what we did for the whole game.”

One Eye Forward

Coach Flick has skillfully navigated the challenge of protecting his players while also securing crucial wins. Barcelona have now won their last two La Liga fixtures heading into the Copa del Rey final and Champions League semifinals. Exiting the Mallorca match with three points and no new injuries was a key objective, further demonstrating Flick`s effective management in his first season at Barcelona. He has top attacking talent available, but even when relying on depth players, everyone appears well-drilled in the German coach`s tactical system.

With a potential treble still on the line, significant work remains, but Barcelona can claim the first trophy on Saturday in the Copa del Rey final. Their victory on Tuesday also brings them one step closer to clinching the La Liga title.

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