NEW DELHI: Barcelona clinched a crucial 1-0 victory over resilient
Mallorca
at home in a hard-fought battle, with teenage sensation
Lamine Yamal
stealing the show with a late, stunning goal.
The win sees Barcelona closing in on league leaders
Real Madrid
, narrowing the gap to just five points.
The decisive moment came in the 73rd minute when 16-year-old Yamal showcased his talent with a magnificent curling shot into the top left-hand corner from the edge of the area, securing his fourth league goal of the season and igniting celebrations among the home fans.
Reflecting on the match, Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez praised his team's resilience in the face of Mallorca's determined performance. Despite facing a tough challenge, Barcelona managed to secure all three points, moving provisionally into second place on the league table.
"We competed well, we created clear chances to win more than 1-0. But we've won, the three points are welcome," said Hernandez, acknowledging the difficulty of the encounter.
Yamal, the hero of the night, expressed his joy at scoring the crucial goal and emphasized the team effort in securing the win.
"It was a game of hard work. They made it difficult for us. Anything that helps the team is great for me," said the young forward.
Barcelona had an opportunity to break the deadlock earlier in the match when Ilkay Gundogan had a penalty saved by Mallorca goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic. Despite the setback, Barcelona continued to press forward, eventually finding the breakthrough through Yamal's brilliance.
With the victory, Barcelona gain momentum as they prepare for their upcoming
Champions League
clash against Napoli. Xavi confirmed that despite some injury concerns, the team is optimistic and ready to face the challenge.
"We need the fans for Tuesday's game," said Xavi, emphasizing the importance of their support as Barcelona aims to advance in the Champions League.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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