Barcelona reinforced their dominance in La Liga with a gritty 1-0 victory over Mallorca at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on April 22, 2025, courtesy of a second-half gem from Dani Olmo. The hard-fought win, Barcelona’s third straight in the league, extended their lead to seven points over Real Madrid, cementing their status as title favorites in the 2024/2025 season, despite a depleted squad.
With key players like Robert Lewandowski and Marc-André ter Stegen sidelined by injuries, coach Hansi Flick handed a rare start to Ansu Fati, his first in six months, injecting fresh energy into the attack. Barcelona controlled possession from the outset but found Mallorca’s compact defense, marshaled by Predrag Rajković, difficult to breach. The first half ended goalless, with Raphinha’s long-range effort narrowly missing and Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi testing Iñaki Peña with a header. Flick’s halftime adjustments sparked a breakthrough in the 52nd minute, when Olmo combined with Lamine Yamal and unleashed a clinical low strike into the far corner, igniting the home crowd.
Mallorca pushed for an equalizer, but Barcelona’s backline, led by Iñigo Martínez, stood tall, with Peña making a crucial save late on. Flick lauded Olmo’s “game-changing quality” and praised the team’s resilience, while Mallorca’s Javier Aguirre rued their inability to capitalize on set pieces. The victory highlighted Barcelona’s depth, with youngsters like Yamal stepping up amid injuries. Olmo’s goal, his fifth in the league, further fueled Ballon d’Or buzz around the Spanish midfielder, whose creativity has been pivotal.
Mallorca, languishing in mid-table, showed defensive grit but lacked the attacking spark to challenge Barcelona’s resolve. The win keeps Barcelona on track for a La Liga and Champions League double, with their Copa del Rey final looming. Fans are buzzing about Olmo’s heroics and Fati’s promising return, setting the stage for a thrilling title run.