BARCELONA SECURE 3-0 VICTORY OVER MALLORCA WITH LAMINE YAMAL WONDER GOAL
Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski powered Barcelona to a 3-0 victory over Mallorca, as Hansi Flick's side overcame a shaky start.
Lamine Yamal lit up the night with a stunning goal, and both Robert Lewandowski and Marc Bernal got in on the action as Barcelona cruised past Mallorca 3-0 at Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday. It didn’t start easily, though. Hansi Flick’s team looked shaky early on but eventually found its rhythm and ran away with it.
Mallorca came out flying, pressing high and forcing chances in the first 20 minutes. They just couldn’t beat Joan Garcia, who stood tall in goal.
Then Lewandowski did what he does best. Right before the half-hour, he pounced after Dani Olmo cushioned a rebound his way—Rashford’s shot had been blocked, and Lewandowski made no mistake.
Barcelona’s second came before the hour. Lamine Yamal let fly from a distance with the keeper unsighted, and the ball rocketed into the top corner. The kid’s got magic in his boots.
With eight minutes left, Marc Bernal finished things off. He danced past defenders and buried his shot for Barca’s third.
All in all, a straightforward win for Flick’s side against a Mallorca team that didn’t just roll over.
Here’s how the players did at Camp Nou:
Goalkeeper & Defence
Joan Garcia (7/10):
Pulled off a couple of sharp saves early when Mallorca were on top. Once Barca settled, he barely broke a sweat in the second half.
Jules Kounde (5/10):
Had a rough time dealing with Virgili’s runs and looked shaky with the ball in the first half. Improved as the game went on, but needs to step up defensively.
Pau Cubarsi (7/10):
Almost scored with a header. So calm bringing the ball out of defence—rarely loses it.
Eric Garcia (7/10):
Best defender on the pitch for Barca. Stayed cool under Mallorca’s pressing.
Alejandro Balde (6/10):
Didn’t get forward much or impact the attack, but handled his defensive duties fine—most of Mallorca’s threat came down Kounde’s side.
Midfield
Marc Casado (7/10):
Sprayed passes around beautifully and kept getting stuck in defensively. He’s on his way to becoming top-class.
Dani Olmo (9/10):
Set up Lewandowski’s opener with a silky touch. Created more chances than anyone else out there. Pure creativity.
Fermin Lopez (8/10):
Did all the dirty work, covering behind Olmo and Casado. Solid all night.
Attack
Lamine Yamal (8/10):
Missed a sitter at the end of the first half but made up for it with a rocket from range. You can’t take your eyes off him.
Robert Lewandowski (8/10):
Scored the opener with a clinical finish after Olmo’s clever flick. Always a danger, always looking to score.
Marcus Rashford (7/10):
Eager to get on the ball, always cutting in from the left. Took a knock before halftime but shrugged it off.
Subs & Manager
Marc Bernal (7/10):
Came on in the second half and scored a beauty after weaving through defenders.
Ferran Torres (6/10):
Came on once the job was done—didn’t really get into the game.
João Cancelo (6/10):
Brought on to shore things up at the back.
Roony Bardghji (N/A):
Barely had time to make an impact.
Tommy Marques (N/A):
A late cameo.
Hansi Flick (8/10):
He’ll be thrilled with the clean sheet and how he managed to rotate his squad. Business as usual, and a job well done.
ONE MONTH OUT: ALEJANDRO BALDE FACES FOUR WEEKS SIDELINED; KOUNDE RETURN DATE REMAINS "UNKNOWN."
Champions League Alert: Get the latest on Kounde and Balde's injuries as Barcelona prepare for a massive tie against Newcastle.
Barcelona’s season just took a hit, actually, a double one after a rough Copa del Rey semi-final with Atletico Madrid. Both Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde are now sidelined with hamstring injuries from Tuesday night’s game. And the worst part? Balde came on to replace the injured Kounde, only to end up hurting himself and heading straight to the treatment room before the match even ended at Camp Nou.
Losing both defenders in one night is a nightmare for Barca, especially since they’re out of the cup now, too.
Wednesday brought some clarity, but not much comfort. The club ran medical tests in the morning and confirmed the damage. Kounde’s out with a mid-biceps femoris injury in his left hamstring; the club won’t say exactly how long he’ll be gone. “His recovery will dictate his return to action,” the statement said. Not exactly reassuring.
Balde’s situation is a bit clearer, but still bad news. The young left-back, who brings real energy to Barca’s attack, is facing about four weeks out with an injury to his distal biceps femoris. That’s a full month on the sidelines, right when the team needs him most. Flick now has to shuffle his defence for a crucial stretch of games, both in La Liga and Europe.
Tuesday night at Camp Nou was pure chaos. Kounde lasted only 13 minutes before limping off, forcing an early shake-up. Balde came in and sparked some hope, but his night ended in the 71st minute with another forced change, with Ronald Araujo stepping in. Two reliable defenders lost in a single match leave Barca exposed at the back, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
The timing stings. Barcelona are in the thick of a packed schedule, and losing Balde’s speed and Kounde’s adaptability is a blow. Flick now faces the run-in without two of his main guys, a scenario he definitely didn’t want.
Still, life at the training ground rolls on. The rest of the squad were back on the pitch on Wednesday for recovery work. The mood was serious but determined. Players who faced Atletico hit the gym, while others like Gavi, Eric Garcia, and Marc Casado trained outside, working their way back to full fitness. Even Robert Lewandowski joined in, though with extra care after his recent facial injury.
Up next is Athletic Club in La Liga, and then Newcastle United in the Champions League. The pressure’s on. Barça has to find a way to cope without Kounde and Balde, because the title race isn’t going to wait for anybody.
TACTICAL FREEDOM: WHY BARCELONA’S SYSTEM UNLOCKED THE RASHFORD MANCHESTER UNITED NEVER TRULY SAW
Marcus Rashford has revitalised his career at Barcelona with 23 goal involvements, but United legend Bryan Robson remains critical.
Marcus Rashford is lighting things up at Barcelona right now. On loan from Manchester United, he’s helped push them to the top of La Liga and into the Champions League knockouts. It’s a huge turnaround for him, but back in Manchester, not everyone’s happy about it. United legend Bryan Robson, for one, isn’t holding back with his criticism. Barcelona want to keep Rashford beyond this season, and honestly, it’s easy to see why.
A fresh start, a new Rashford
Since moving to Barcelona in the summer of 2025, Rashford has completely turned his career around. Things were rough for him in Manchester – so much pressure, so much scrutiny – but now, at 28, he looks like a different player. He’s scored 10 goals and set up 13 more in 35 games. He’s flying down the left wing, linking up with his teammates, and just looks alive again. Those performances have been crucial for Barcelona, who’ve climbed to the top of La Liga and made it into the Champions League last 16. He’s been decisive in Europe, too, racking up nine goal contributions in just eight games.
Naturally, people are looking back at his time at Old Trafford and wondering what went wrong. Before moving to Spain, Rashford seemed weighed down by expectations at United. Fans are happy to see him enjoying football again, but it’s tough not to ask: Why couldn’t he play like this in the Premier League? Why did his energy and confidence disappear back home?
Robson’s not impressed.
Bryan Robson, United’s old captain, isn’t buying into the Rashford revival. He’s puzzled by the sudden change. Speaking to BOYLE Sports, Robson said, “Marcus Rashford, as a player, I can’t understand it. When you’re at Manchester United, and everyone says he’s lost his confidence, and then he goes and enjoys his football somewhere else… If you can’t enjoy your football at Manchester United, there’s something wrong with you.”
Robson also doesn’t think bringing Rashford back to United would be simple. There’s more competition now, and he wonders how Rashford’s attitude would fit in. “I’m just not sure I’d bring Marcus back in. The lads might ask about his attitude,” Robson admitted. “Right now, United have Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Mason Mount. When he’s fit, he’s top class. Patrick Dorgu’s been great too, though he got unlucky with an injury.”
Carrick’s got United rolling.
While Rashford’s been making headlines in Spain, Michael Carrick has quietly improved things at United. He’s shored up the defence and made the team tough to break down, but they can also hit on the counter or play against deep blocks. United are unbeaten in six matches under Carrick (five wins and one draw), and they’ve beaten Arsenal and City along the way.
Robson commented on Carrick’s tactics, saying, “I don’t think Michael is just building a counter-attacking team. It really depends on who they’re playing. Sometimes the opposition sits deep, and you have to be careful not to get caught yourself. Michael’s managed that really well lately.”
He pointed to the Everton game as an example. “Against Everton, United were solid. They showed real fight. Everton kept putting corners right under the bar, but Maguire, Yoro, Casemiro, and Lammens handled it brilliantly. Everton didn’t threaten beyond those corners. The goal that won it was fantastic, but what stood out to me was the determination not to concede.”
Big decisions ahead
With spring approaching, Rashford’s in for a huge test at Barcelona. The Champions League knockouts will show if he can keep delivering against the best. At the same time, United have some big choices to make about their attack, and for Rashford, his future’s still up in the air.
