MALLORCA TODAY - Real Mallorca 2 : 4 Barcelona

Mallorca, five defeats on the trot, up against Barcelona playing their first game after the shock defeat by Celtic. To no great surprise it was Barça who dominated possession without being particularly threatening until the inevitable happened and Barça scored after almost half an hour - Xavi with a strike from a free kick. And just before half time the game was all but killed off, first Messi and then Tello scoring for Barça. Or had it been killed off? Nine minutes into the second period Pereira pulled one back and four minutes later Victor converted the penalty after Busquets had handled. Hopes raised for Mallorca but then dashed, Messi adding his second of the match ten minutes later. Mallorca slipping towards the relegation zone, the next two games, both away, are important - against Celta Vigo, also near the drop zone, and one of the season's surprise teams Rayo Vallecano who beat Vigo yesterday.
 
Mallorca:
Aouate; Ximo (Fernández 81), Geromel, Conceiçao, Bigas; Nsue, Pina, Martí (Fontás 73), Pereira; Victor; Hemed (Alfaro 45)
Goals: Pereira (54), Victor (58 - penalty)
Yellow: Martí (28)

Barcelona:
Valdés; Alves, Mascherano (Bartra 84), Piqué, Alba (Montoya 87); Xavi, Busquets, Fábregas; Tello, Messi, Villa (Alexis 66)
Goals: Xavi (27), Messi (43, 69), Tello (44)
Yellow: Busquets (57)

MALLORCA TODAY - Real Mallorca 0 : 2 Barcelona

Buoyed by back-to-back wins, at least Mallorca were in good form in welcoming Barcelona to the Son Moix. A quiet opening first quarter of the match except for Aouate stopping a Messi shot with his face. And then, on 26 minutes, Alexis headed in a Messi free-kick to give the visitors the lead. Mallorca were hanging in but being outplayed and coach Caparrós did at least show some intent by pulling off a defender for Nsue soon into the second period. Despite Barcelona going down to ten men soon after (Thiago exiting for deliberate handball and a second yellow offence), defender Piqué responded to a Messi shot against the post in adding a second. Respectable performance by Mallorca, but a predictable result.


Mallorca:
Aouate; Chico (Nsue 53), Nunes, Ramis, Cáceres; Tissone (Alfaro 74), Martí, Pereira, Castro; Álvaro (Hemed 53), Victor
Yellow: Ramis (40)

Barcelona:
Valdés; Puyol, Mascherano, Piqué; Thiago, Fábregas (Montoya 59), Busquets, Iniesta; Alexis (Tello 82), Messi, Pedro (Keita 68)
Goals: Alexis (26), Piqué (79)
Red: Thiago (56)
Yellows: Thiago (36), Puyol (88)

MALLORCA TODAY - Real Mallorca 0 : 3 Barcelona

Totally out-passed by the La Liga leaders, Real Mallorca slumped to a defeat against Barcelona through goals from Lionel Messi with a header in the 38th minute, David Villa with a left-foot finish in the 57th, Pedro in the 66th minute, thanks to Keita's second assist of the match. The defeat leaves Mallorca in eleventh spot, seven points and positions above the drop zone.

Real Mallorca:
Aoaute; Cendros, Nunes, Rubén, Ayoze; Joao Victor (sub: Pereira, 60), Marti (yellow card for protesting, 58), De Guzman (sub: Tejera, 71), Chori Castro (sub: Aki, 69); Nsue, Webo.

Barcelona:
Pinto; Adriano (sub: Montoya, 85), Piqué, Abidal, Maxwell; Busquets, Keita, Iniesta; Pedro (sub: Afellay, 70), Messi, Villa (sub: Bojan Krkic, 70).