January 03, (THEWILL) – On Sunday night, a much-weakened Barcelona won 1-0 over Mallorca courtesy of a first-half header from Luuk de Jong.
Due to injury and COVID-19, Barça came into the game missing a slew of first-team players, which meant Oscar Mingueza and Ronaldo Araujo stepped in at full-back, and teenagers Ilias Akhomach and Ferran Jutgla were given unusual debuts.
But, the first half was all about another stand-in: De Jong. His day got off to a bad start when his first shot went out for a throw-in, but the Dutchman quickly improved. He toe-poked one effort onto the post at full stretch first, and minutes later his bicycle kick cannoned off the bar.
Finally, he got his goal on the stroke of halftime, leaping high at the back post to nod home Mingueza’s deep cross. It was no less than Barça deserved after their hosts could not produce a single shot in the opening period.
The visitors continued to dominate in the second half, but they only looked like they were going to score when they pushed the ball into the area. First, Ronald Araujo failed to connect with a free header, and then Gerard Pique’s effort was bundled away.
Mallorca failed to break down Xavi’s defence. They did, however, have one major worry in the closing embers, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen having to produce a fantastic, reflex stop to keep Jaume Costa’s volley out.
Barça now sits fifth in La Liga, one point behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid but 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid at the top of the log in Spain.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
