Saturday March 24, 2012 Day 30 Finished Iberostar Estadi

RCD Mallorca 0 - 2 FC Barcelona

  • Messi 25’
  • Piqué 79’

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  1. Barcelona close the gap with win at Mallorca

    Barcelona close the gap with win at Mallorca

    Barcelona cranked up the pressure on Real Madrid in the race for the title with a 2-0 victory against Real Mallorca at the Iberostar Estadi More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • RCD Mallorca
    • FC Barcelona
    • 90+4 And that's it - a ninth straight win in all competitions.
    • 90+3 Barca defend a late corner and that should be that. Three points in it.
    • 90+1' The way they have kept the ball at times beggars belief - they are now in total control.
    • 89' This is how you play with ten men. Barcelona still have had 64% of possession.
    • 87' Sumptuous from Messi. He goes on a meandering run before finding Montoya at the back post but he makes a hash of it.
    • 85' Great defending there from Montoya, who just about gets a leg to a shot destined for the bottom corner. Tello then leads the break for Barca and draws a save from Aouate.
    • 83' Tello for Sanchez.
    • 81' Iniesta has been incredible tonight. Again he just dictates the pace and rhythm.
    • 79' Incredible. Puyol's pass finds Messi inside the box, he avoids a flailing challenge before firing across the keeper but off the post. Pique follows up and that's two goals to the good. And the deficit is down to three.
    • 78' This is, in parts, an absolute master class in ball retention from the visitors. Iniesta finishes this move with a shot that is deflected wide.
    • 76' Pereira gives away a free-kick to relieve the pressure on the visitors.
    • 74' Messi breaks but holds the ball for a second too long and Sanchez is offside when he does release it.
    • 72' The visitors seem happy to allow Mallorca the ball in front of them. They hold their formation and then nick it and break with Messi but with little on they are happy to monopolise possession for a couple of minutes as Mallorca prepare another sub.
    • 70' Barca are almost caught napping. Pique defends well to deny the first chance but then switches off to allow Victor a sight of goal but Valdes does well to turn the effort around the post.
    • 68' Pedro is off for Barca. He has been disappointing.
    • 65' Mallorca taking the direct route as they look to put pressure on the reigning champs and Tissonie's volley is blocked before Valdes collects. At the other end, Messi draws another free-kick.
    • 63' Great feet from the sub Nsue but then as he looks to spread the ball wide he undoes all his own good work as the ball drifts out of play.
    • 61' Looks like the visitors are going for a flat back four now as the hosts crank up the pressure.
    • 60' Pep makes the change. Fabregas off for Montoya.
    • 59' Messi leads the break, nut-megs his man and feeds Pedro but the winger loses control of the ball before feeding Messi but he can only stab the ball into the side netting.
    • 57' Very, very dubious second yellow card for Thiago as he looks to control the ball with his chest - but the referee adjudges that it is his hand and he is off.
    • - Double substitution from Mallorca - and it is an attacker for a defender.
    • 56' Messi draws the free-kick about twenty-five yards out and pretty central but he can't get enough whip on the strike and it falls wide of the goal.
    • 54' That's another club record for Messi with 35 league goals in a season - he just doesn't stop. Incredible.
    • 52' Mallorca work the ball well through the midfield but not for the first time Caceres is wasteful with the cross.
    • 50' A little bit of news on the Pichichi, the referee has at half-time credited Messi with the goal.
    • 48' Very, very open at the beginning of the second period - a loose pass out from the back from Barca offers Marti a sniff of goal but he gets his feet all wrong and the chance is gone.
    • 46' Back underway in Mallorca.
    • 45' Messi draws another free-kick but the visitors waste it. Half-time.
    • 44' Having enjoyed a bit of a purple patch, Barcelona are being worked hard as we move to the interval. However, just as it looks as though the hosts are comfortable, Sanchez fashions a chance from nowhere but Aouate is behind it.
    • 42' Mallorca looks to expose Mascherano down the visitors right but Fabregas is offering some great protection and he is there again to cut out a through ball. The visitors work it well to Valdes and they build again.
    • 41' Iniesta cuts in from the left but his shot lacks direction as it skews off to the right.
    • 39' Mascherano gives away the ball as he looks to lead a break from the back but Caceres can't capitalise as Fabregas covers his defensive colleague - big chance there as Mascherano was out of position.
    • 37' Thiago's lunge gives away a free-kick and earns the youngster a yellow card. Mallorca work it cleverly but the final ball drifts out for a throw.
    • 35' Some patient build up play soon gets some thrust when the ball comes to Messi but Iniesta's stray past brings the move to an end.
    • 33' A great challenge from Thiago sets Sanchez through on goal but his deflected effort strikes the bar and Fabregas can't reach high enough to head the rebound towards goal.
    • 31' Mallorca make a now rare foray forward and even though Mascherano makes a hash of the clearance Barcelona come again but Messi just can't get onto the return ball from Thiago.
    • 29' Pedro is fouled and Messi is over it - straight at the wall.
    • 28' The resulting corner is worked to Messi in the box, who drops a shoulder this way and that before fashioning a shooting opportubity - it is again blocked for a corner, which is aimless. The hosts clear and have some much needed relief.
    • 27' Barca come again with Messi but his cross is cut out for a corner. They work it short to Iniesta but his shot is blocked for another corner.
    • 25' But they give away a free-kick for a foul for on Sanchez twenty-five yards out and right of centre. Messi takes the free-kick and whips it to the far post where it looks like Sanchez just gets his head to it to give Barca the lead. Looks like it could be Messi's goal actually but it is Sanchez who takes the plaudits. 0-1.
    • 23' Mallorca are compact without the ball but manage to press high up the field when needed and it is a tactic that is working.
    • 22' It is their away form that has stunted Barcelona's title challenge this season and they are struggling a little here.
    • 20' We have another slight delay in what has already been a stop start affair as Valdes re-arranges his gloves.
    • 18' Alvaro arches his neck but just can't get the desired connection on the cross from the right. Decent enough move from the home side and Barca are on the back foot.
    • 16' Puyol does well to deal with Pereira at the back post as he looks to get on to a whipped cross from the other wing. The home side in the ascendancy here.
    • 15' We have a slight hiatus for an injury to a home side player.
    • 13' Mallorca have tired a little now and can't seem to exert as much pressure on the visitors back three as they did in the opening period and the visitors are coming to the fore.
    • 11' Offside. Pedro went a fraction too early.
    • 9' Busquets draws a foul in what has been a pretty scrappy affair thus far.
    • 7' Barca have their first opportunity to counter but the side from the Balearic Islands press pretty well and snuff out the threat.
    • 5' Castro makes a strong run down the left but his whipped cross just has too much on it.
    • 3' Mallorca start with great intensity - they get close and pressurise the Catalan side, who struggle to get their passing game going.
    • 2' Teams as below.
    • 1' We're underway at the Iberostar Estadi.
    • 16:55 But Barca are travelling to a side in the midst of a good run of form - unbeaten in four matches and within touching distance of that 40-point barrier that usually confirms survival - knowing that if they don’t stretch their own winning streak to seven matches then the title will surely be over.
    • 16:50 Madrid's draw against Villarreal on Wednesday night - which saw the visitors finish up with nine men - has cut the gap at the top of the league to just six points coming into this weekend’s round of fixtures. And despite Pep Guardiola’s continued rebuttal of title talk, victory here will surely further test the mentality of the men from Madrid.
    • 16:45 TEAMS: Mallorca: Aouate, Ramis, Nunes, Caceres, Chico, Marti, Tissonie, Castro, Pereira, Candela, Casadesus. Subs: Calatayud, Zuiverloon, Lopez, Alfaro, Nsue, Pina, Hemed. /// Barcelona: Valdes, Mascherano, Pique, Puyol, Thiago, Busquets, Iniesta, Fabregas, Messi, Pedro, Sanchez. Subs: Pinto, Muniesa, Montoya, Keita, Xavi, Tello, Cuenca.
    • 16:40 Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of RCD Mallorca and FC Barcelona from Iberostar Estadi, where victory for Barca will move them within three points of Liga leaders Real Madrid, who kick-off at 19.00.

  • Summary

    • 85' Great defending there from Montoya, who just about gets a leg to a shot destined for the bottom corner. Tello then leads the break for Barca and draws a save from Aouate.
    • 79' Incredible. Puyol's pass finds Messi inside the box, he avoids a flailing challenge before firing across the keeper but off the post. Pique follows up and that's two goals to the good. And the deficit is down to three.
    • 59' Messi leads the break, nut-megs his man and feeds Pedro but the winger loses control of the ball before feeding Messi but he can only stab the ball into the side netting.
    • 57' Very, very dubious second yellow card for Thiago as he looks to control the ball with his chest - but the referee adjudges that it is his hand and he is off.
    • 56' Messi draws the free-kick about twenty-five yards out and pretty central but he can't get enough whip on the strike and it falls wide of the goal.
    • 54' That's another club record for Messi with 35 league goals in a season - he just doesn't stop. Incredible.
    • 39' Mascherano gives away the ball as he looks to lead a break from the back but Caceres can't capitalise as Fabregas covers his defensive colleague - big chance there as Mascherano was out of position.
    • 33' A great challenge from Thiago sets Sanchez through on goal but his deflected effort strikes the bar and Fabregas can't reach high enough to head the rebound towards goal.
    • 25' But they give away a free-kick for a foul for on Sanchez twenty-five yards out and right of centre. Messi takes the free-kick and whips it to the far post where it looks like Sanchez just gets his head to it to give Barca the lead. Looks like it could be Messi's goal actually but it is Sanchez who takes the plaudits. 0-1.
    • 18' Alvaro arches his neck but just can't get the desired connection on the cross from the right. Decent enough move from the home side and Barca are on the back foot.
    • 16:45 TEAMS: Mallorca: Aouate, Ramis, Nunes, Caceres, Chico, Marti, Tissonie, Castro, Pereira, Candela, Casadesus. Subs: Calatayud, Zuiverloon, Lopez, Alfaro, Nsue, Pina, Hemed. /// Barcelona: Valdes, Mascherano, Pique, Puyol, Thiago, Busquets, Iniesta, Fabregas, Messi, Pedro, Sanchez. Subs: Pinto, Muniesa, Montoya, Keita, Xavi, Tello, Cuenca.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • RCD Mallorca

    Manager: Joaquín Caparrós

  • FC Barcelona

    Manager: Josep Guardiola

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.1 -
      Defenders
      Substitution Out54′ 4.6 -
      4.4 -
      Yellow Card 4.6 -
      4.7 -
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out75′ 4.9 -
      4.4 -
      Yellow Card 4.6 -
      4.6 -
      Strikers
      4.6 -
      Substitution Out54′ 4.5 -
      Subs
      Substitution In54′ 4.9 -
      Substitution In75′ 6.1 -
      Substitution In54′ 5.4 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.6 -
      Defenders
      7.5 -
      Goal 7.6 -
      Yellow Card 7.6 -
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out60′ 7.3 -
      7.2 -
      Red Card 6.2 -
      7.8 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out82′ 8.1 -
      Substitution Out69′ 7 -
      Goal 8.5 -
      Subs
      Substitution In69′ 7.2 -
      Substitution In60′ 6.5 -
      Substitution In82′ 6.9 -

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  1. WooooooHooooooo Messi ;) and I knew barca was going to­ win :) they are toooooo goood!!!!

    From Iram :), on Mon 12 Nov 5:41
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