Barcelona: Barcelona captain Raphinha scored twice as they returned to winning ways in LaLiga for the first time in a month with a 5-1 victory at Mallorca on Tuesday, with the visitors netting four times in the second half.
Barca manager Hansi Flick decided to rest LaLiga top-scorer Robert Lewandowski, who started all 20 previous matches in all competitions, while Lamine Yamal returned to the starting team after almost a month out with an ankle injury.
Without Yamal, Barca had seemed to hit a brick wall, picking up only one point in their previous three matches, but with the 17-year-old back in the line-up, they were firing once again.
Barca top the standings on 37 points, four ahead of second-placed Real Madrid who have two games in hand. Atletico are third on 32 points.
Barca took an early lead with Ferran Torres scoring following a comical mistake by the hosts' defence in the 12th minute. Johan Mojica fired an attempted clearance against a teammate, with the ball finding Torres, who was perfectly placed to strike home under the goalkeeper's legs.
Barca created a few chances in a slow-paced first half and Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi levelled the scoring from a quick counter attack just before the break.
Yet Barca came out flying in the second-half and Raphinha, who almost scored from a free kick minutes earlier, restored their lead from the penalty spot in the 56th minute after Lamine Yamal was fouled inside the box.
Yamal crossed to Raphinha to extend Barca's lead with a tap-in in the 74th minute and substitutes Frenkie De Jong and Pau Victor added to the goal-feast with late strikes from inside the box to wrap up an easy win. Agencies
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