BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Teenager Lamine Yamal curled in a second-half objective to seize Barcelona a 1-0 win over Mallorca at residence on Friday, lifting the defending Spanish league champions into second place.
Yamal’s beautiful shot from simply contained in the nook of the realm for the 73rd-minute objective salvaged an in any other case lackluster Barcelona from a second straight draw.
It was the 16-year-old Yamal’s sixth objective throughout all competitions in his first full season with Barcelona. He’s set a number of milestones for his younger age, such because the youngest participant to debut and to attain within the Spanish league, to attain for Spain, and to begin within the Champions League.
“I used to be attempting to maintain their left again occupied, however since they gave the area I went for my shot,” Yamal mentioned about his objective. “Now we’ve to consider the Champions League, the place we face one of the necessary video games of the season.”
Coach Xavi Hernández stored Robert Lewadowski on the bench till the ultimate half hour, resting him earlier than Tuesday’s Champions League match towards Napoli to see which advances to the quarterfinals. Their first sport in Italy ended 1-1.
Barcelona moved two factors forward of Girona earlier than it hosts Osasuna on Saturday. Chief Actual Madrid is 5 factors away from Barcelona earlier than internet hosting Celta Vigo on Sunday.
The opposite standout participant for Barcelona was 17-year-old middle again Pau Curbasí, who excelled once more along with his defending and passing.
Mallorca goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic stored the sport shut. He saved a penalty taken by Ilkay Gundogan within the first half after Raphinha was fouled within the space by José Copete. Rajkovic additionally received simply sufficient of a contact of a Yamal shot to push it onto his bar early within the second half.
Raphinha would ultimately should be substituted within the first half, apparently for the knock to his leg by Copete that was penalized.
Xavi mentioned Raphinha didn’t look like significantly injured and he anticipated him to be good to go towards Napoli.
Barcelona was with out first-choice midfielders Pedri González and Frenkie de Jong after they had been injured within the earlier spherical’s scoreless draw at Athletic Bilbao.
Mallorca, which can play Athletic Bilbao within the Copa del Rey last subsequent month, was left in fifteenth place.
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