Barcelona build seven-point lead on Real Madrid ahead of El Clasico, put up 40 shots in narrow 1-0 victory

Barcelona was able to overcome their last misery to go seven points from Real Madrid on top of La Liga on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Mallorca in which they recorded 40 shots. Driven by Dani Olmo and strong saves from Wojciech Szczesny, Barca was able to secure all three points and win their first game without Robert Lewandowski, who was absent with a muscular injury.

The Portuguese attacker was replaced by Ferran Torres in the XI, and the attack responded with 24 shots in the first half, five of which were on goal for an XG of 1.94. It was almost a comedy of mistakes in which Barcelona was released for shooting exercises and the target, but with heavy rotation due to one eye on the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid on Saturday, some of these problems are to be expected.

Raphinha, Fermin Lopez, Fenkie de Jong and Jules Kounde all started the game on the couch, while Alejandro Bald & Lewandowski missed with injuries. This is far from the standard arrangement of Barcelona, ​​and it turned out that players are carrying out everywhere on the field. Yamal took 10 shots and Barcelona put 13 of 40 on goal for an XG of 3.41. But immediately after the second half started, Olmo scored the decisive goal of securing all three points.

Faced with registration problems that have kept him in and out of the team, together with dealing with injuries, Olmo did not have much time to show what he can do for Barcelona, ​​but without Lewandowski he is someone who has to stand up to win competitions.

Another number nine

With Torres who led the border, there were clear differences in the attacks of Barcelona. He changed the room with Olmo and it was something that Mallorca could not follow during the competition. Although Torres had to play on the wing for most of the season due to the presence of Lewandowski, it was a strong show for him despite not scoring. With the rotation this competition was more of a training session for Flick about how they will attack Real Madrid.

With Raphinha, Olmo, Yamal and Torres there will be enough in the Barcelona attack to bother Real Madrid. A team does not accidentally create 40 chances, and if Barcelona does again at the weekend, they have done enough to win the game. They have already transferred the pressure to Real Madrid to win their competition opposite Getafe on Wednesday, or La Liga might be out of their reach. Even if Torres does not score, he simply has to ensure that the people around him have the freedom to do what they have to do, and that is where his working speed enters. The rotation had no major impact on the XI, according to Eric Garcia, especially because they held a clean slate.

“We have still created many opportunities. It is one of those games that if someone does not go inside, we have to continue, and that is also what we have done for the entire game,” Garcia said after the game.

One eye forward

Flick has had a tough job that protected his players while he is also looking to win games, but he managed it well and won their last two La Liga matches before the Copa del Rey Final and Champions League Semifinals. Leaving this match with all three points and no further injuries was the goal, and another thing that shows how well a work film does in his first season that is in charge of Barcelona. While Flick Top has attackers at his disposal, even when Barcelona has to go to their depth player, everyone is well drilled in the German coach’s system.

With a Treble on the line there is more work to do, but Barcelona can secure the first of those trophies on Saturday, while they have already come a step closer to securing the LA Liga title with their victory on Tuesday.

La Liga classification

Title race: remaining schedule

1. FC Barcelona – 73 points

Real Vallodolid (A), Real Madrid (H), Espayol (A), Villarreal (H), Athletic Club (A).

2. Real Madrid – 69 points

Getafe (A), Celta (H), FC Barcelona (A), Mallorca (H), Sevilla (A), Real Sociedad (H).