Following a dramatic comeback win against Celta Vigo at the weekend, Barcelona`s demanding schedule continues as they host Mallorca on Tuesday afternoon. With the La Liga title race ongoing, manager Hansi Flick must manage player rotation carefully ahead of the Copa del Rey final scheduled for Saturday. Barcelona is set to face Real Madrid in El Clasico, but holding only a four-point lead in the league means they cannot afford to overlook this fixture.
This match also marks Barcelona`s first appearance without star striker Robert Lewandowski. The Polish international has been prolific, netting 37 goals across all competitions this season. However, he is now sidelined for at least the next three matches due to a left semitendinosus injury. With crucial Copa del Rey and Champions League semi-finals on the horizon, Barcelona will need to adapt their attack. This likely means Ferran Torres will feature as the central forward. Supported by Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, Barcelona still possesses significant attacking threat, but the compressed schedule makes it challenging for Flick to rely solely on his top players for every minute of the upcoming fixtures.
Storylines
Barcelona: With Lewandowski injured, Flick immediately expressed confidence in Torres as the number nine, but also voiced concerns about the fitness levels of other key players leading into the match. Midfielders like Frenkie De Jong and Pedri, along with wingers Yamal and Raphinha, are vital components whose fitness is essential for Barcelona`s prospects of success, starting with Tuesday`s game.
“He`s very important. We need to manage him,” Flick stated regarding Torres. “He`s in a very good moment in his career, he`s scored ten goals in La Liga, and I think nine is the right position for him. What he shows, he`s a fast player, but he can also control the ball, give us a lot when we defend. But we also have to manage him, because we need him until the end of the season.”
Mallorca currently sits seventh in the league standings, largely due to their strong defense. They have an outside chance of securing a European spot, which underscores the importance for Barcelona of balancing the need for points with ensuring player safety.
Mallorca: Conceding just one or fewer goals in eight of their last 10 matches highlights how difficult it is to break down Mallorca`s defense. While their away form has generally been weaker, a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad on April 12 suggests this could be changing. Facing Barcelona presents a completely different challenge, requiring intense focus for the entire match, as Celta Vigo recently discovered. However, if Mallorca harbours ambitions of European competition, this is a prime opportunity to make a statement.
Predicted lineups
Barcelona: Wojciech Szczesny, Gerrard Martin, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, Ferran Torres
Mallorca: Dominik Greif, Johan Mojica, Jose Copete, Antonio Raillo, Martin Valjent, Mateu Morey, Sergi Darder, Samu, Omar Mascarell, Antonio Sanchez, Cyle Larin
Prediction
Despite the absence of Lewandowski, Barcelona still possesses significant attacking depth, which should make it difficult for Mallorca to dominate possession or frequently venture out of their own half. Even if they fall behind, Barcelona has repeatedly demonstrated the resilience to fight back into matches. Therefore, it is hard to foresee anything other than a comprehensive home victory for Barcelona.
Predicted Score: Barcelona 3, Mallorca 1
Dominic Ashworth