PALMA: Barcelona captain Raphinha scored twice as they returned to winning ways in La Liga for the first time in a month with a 5-1 victory at Mallorca on Tuesday, with the visitors netting four times in the second half.

Barca manager Hansi Flick decided to rest La Liga top-scorer Robert Lewandowski, who started all 20 previous matches in all competitions, while Lamine Yamal returned to the starting team after almost a month out with an ankle injury.

Without Yamal, Barca had seemed to hit a brick wall, picking up only one point in their previous three matches, but with the 17-year-old back in the line-up, they were firing once again.

“Today (Yamal) was very important for us, he always generates positive things for the team,” Flick told Movistar Plus. “He could have scored one or two goals today, he played very well.”

Barca top the standings on 37 points, four ahead of second-placed Real Madrid who have two games in hand. Atletico are third on 32 points.

Barca took an early lead with Ferran Torres scoring following a comical mistake by the hosts’ defence in the 12th minute. Johan Mojica fired an attempted clearance against a team-mate, with the ball finding Torres, who was perfectly placed to strike home under the goalkeeper’s legs.

Barca created a few chances in a slow-paced first half and Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi levelled the scoring from a quick counter attack just before the break.

Yet Barca came out flying in the second-half and Raphinha, who almost scored from a free kick minutes earlier, restored their lead from the penalty spot in the 56th minute after Yamal was fouled inside the box.

Yamal crossed to Raphinha to extend Barca’s lead with a tap-in in the 74th minute and substitutes Frenkie De Jong and Pau Victor added to the goal-feast with late strikes from inside the box to wrap up an easy win.

“We knew how important it was to win again,” Raphinha told Movistar Plus.

“In the last three games something has been missing. Today we were good, it wasn’t our best game, but winning was the most important thing.

“I am living my best moment professionally but I don’t want to stop there. I want to do much more for this club, which I am very fond of.

“I will give everything I can on the pitch so we can maintain momentum moving forward.”

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2024