Barcelona rests stars still secures crucial win

FC Barcelona tightened its grip on the La Liga title race with a narrow but dominant 1-0 victory over Real Mallorca on Tuesday evening. Despite fielding a heavily rotated lineup to preserve energy for an intense upcoming schedule, the Catalan side created enough chances to secure all three points and move to 76 on the league table.

Flick rotates squad ahead of crucial stretch

With two clashes against Real Madrid and Internazionale, as well as a La Liga match against Real Valladolid looming over the next 18 days, head coach Hansi Flick opted to rest several key players. Frenkie de Jong remained on the bench for nearly the entire match, only appearing in the final minutes, while Ansu Fati earned a rare start only his second of the season. Flick’s strategy was clear: rotate the squad, avoid unnecessary injuries, and maintain momentum in all competitions. The goal is ambitious by may 11, Barcelona could be Copa del Rey champions, finalists in the Champions League, and well ahead of Real Madrid in the domestic title race.

Relentless pressure, minimal reward

Barcelona dominated from the first whistle, firing a remarkable 40 shots equalling Real Madrid’s record from 2011. However, despite the overwhelming number of chances, the team struggled to convert. Mallorca’s defense held strong in the first half, and Barça headed to the dressing room frustrated with the 0-0 scoreline. The breakthrough finally came just moments after the restart. In a crowded penalty area, Dani Olmo found a sliver of space and placed the ball perfectly into the back of the net, giving Barcelona the lead their dominance deserved.

Managing the result

After the goal, Barcelona deliberately slowed the tempo. With bigger matches ahead, the focus shifted to controlling possession, avoiding injuries, and seeing out the win with minimal effort. The plan worked. Barcelona remained composed, rarely threatened at the back, and secured three vital points without overextending themselves.

La Liga outlook

With the victory, Barcelona now sits on 76 points. Real Madrid, who lost ground over the weekend, has one match in hand and trails by seven points. They’ll get their chance to respond on wednesday when they travel to face Getafe. Despite the loss, Mallorca remains in seventh place and still has a realistic chance of qualifying for European competition next season — an impressive achievement for the side.

The road ahead

Barcelona’s packed calendar could define their season. If Flick’s rotation strategy continues to pay off, and results like this keep coming, the Catalan giants could be on the verge of a historic few weeks chasing silverware on multiple fronts while staying on course for their 28th La Liga title.