Barça kicked off a new run ahead of the Qatar World Cup with a win that showed a more studied, deliberate approach than last season. The match at Son Moix began with cautious exchanges as Barça pressed to demonstrate a true team identity, a point coach Xavi had been stressing. Lewandowski found the net, opening the scoring in a game where the visitors did not dominate every facet, but showed enough control to seal a 0-1 victory. The win marked Barça’s sixth consecutive league triumph, signaling a month and a half packed with fixtures that would offer little room for rest or vacation from the schedule.
It became clear early on that Barça possessed a genuine collective spirit, something Xavi emphasized after the match. At the outset of October, the squad needed to prove depth across all lines. Under Javier Aguirre, Mallorca lined up Vedat Muriqi and Kang-in Lee, two of the strongest performers in the league, while familiar Barça figures like Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba, and Franck Kessié did not immediately stand out in the early stages. Ansu Fati started for Barça for the first time in the league since a demanding international break, a chance to reclaim form after a tough spell with the national team. Alejandro Balde was trusted on the right and, while he did not astound, he performed without drawing attention for mistakes, aside from a minor lapse in concentration.
It was a calm night in Palma, where the warmth and a measured, even pace allowed the match to unfold. Mallorca pressed forward in short, quick transitions, with Kang-in Lee and Ruiz de Galarreta trying shots that did not quite meet the target. Barça’s defense, organized and compact, kept the visitors mostly contained, though Dembele and Ansu Fati produced flashes that did not yet pay off. In the end, Lewandowski’s early goal proved decisive, and Mallorca found themselves chasing the game from that moment on. The Polish striker, who has grown fond of the island since his arrival, made the difference for the visitors with a composed finish. It felt like water appearing in a desert, a moment of relief in a tense spell for Barça fans.
As the clock moved toward halftime, the balance of play shifted again. Two Barça defenders, Piqué and Christensen, were cautioned, and Óscar Hernández, Xavi’s assistant, was sent off for protesting a decision after a challenge on Gavi. Despite the disruption, Barça held the lead into the break. At the restart, Mallorca heightened their attempts with Muriqi and Antonio Sánchez nearing goal, while Barça’s bench responded with proactive changes. The team pressed for control, and while Mallorca forced some anxious stretches, the Catalans maintained their advantage, with Kessié testing the perimeter from distance and Barça still seeking a second goal to quiet the home crowd.
The match saw fresh legs enter, including Raphinha for balance on the right, though his impact was limited. Minutes drifted by with little to separate the sides, yet Mallorca remained persistent and created late openings that tested Barça’s resolve. Aguirre orchestrated a brave push to force a draw, sending his team forward with determined crosses and shots that kept the event tense until the final whistle. Despite a flurry of chances for Mallorca in the last quarter of an hour, Barça’s defense, with Ter Stegen pulling off a key stop, preserved the scoreline. It was a night where a well-timed save and a poised finish underscored the old adage that football can be simple when the right pieces click together.
The evening closed with Barça celebrating a hard-fought victory that kept them at the summit of the league standings. Mallorca, though unable to take anything from the encounter, left encouraged by a performance that suggested they could challenge the closing weeks of the season with attacking vigor and disciplined defense. The home fans acknowledged their team’s efforts with applause, recognizing that the result did not tell the full story of a match that was competitive to the end.
Data sheet
0- RCD Mallorca: Predrag Rajkovic; Pablo Maffeo, Martin Valjent, Antonio Raillo, Jose Copete, Jaume Costa (Brian Cufre, 77′); Iddrisu Baba, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Antonio Sánchez (Dani Rodríguez, 67′); Kang-in Lee, Vedat Muriqi.
1- FC Barcelona: Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Alejandro Balde, Gerard Pique, Andreas Christensen, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Franck Kessie (Pedri, 67′), Gavi; Ousmane Dembélé, Robert Lewandowski, Ansu Fati (Raphinha, 67′).
Aim: 0-1, Robert Lewandowski (min. 20).
Judge: Jesús Gil Manzano. Jaume Costa (Mallorca) and Christensen signed with Piqué, Kessie and Sergio Busquets (Barça). Barça’s assistant coach Óscar Hernández was sent off with a red card.
Events: The match coincided with the seventh day of the Santander League 2022/23, played at the last Moix stadium.