Barcelona put their recent poor results behind them with an impressive 5-1 win over Real Mallorca on Tuesday evening, in a match rescheduled from the 19th round of the Spanish League. This victory propelled Barcelona to the top of the table with 37 points, four points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, who have two games in hand. Mallorca remains in sixth with 24 points.
Spanish coach Hansi Flick was pleased with his team’s strong second-half performance and their full three-point result. According to the Spanish newspaper El Nacional, Flick praised Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal for his exceptional play in the second half, particularly his accurate passes that disrupted Mallorca’s defense and helped ease Barcelona’s task.
The newspaper also reported that Flick took time to congratulate substitute Pau Victor for his goal after coming on, admiring his movements and relentless pressure on Mallorca’s defense. He encouraged Pau Victor to be ready for a starting role in Barcelona’s next match against Real Betis.
In a surprising turn, Flick also acknowledged the excellent performance of substitute midfielder Frenkie de Jong, urging him to maintain his high level of play and prove his critics wrong on the field. Flick expressed confidence in De Jong and reaffirmed his desire for him to stay at Barcelona, despite rumors suggesting the club may sell him in January.
Finally, after the match, club president Joan Laporta visited the locker room to personally congratulate the young star Lamine Yamal, telling him, “You are the driving force of the team this season.”
