- MADRID — Dani Olmo's second-half goal allowed FC Barcelona to extend its
lead at the top of La Liga to seven points over Real Madrid with a 1-0 win at
home to Mallorca.
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- Barcelona dominated the game, but was denied time after
time by a magnificent display from Mallorca goalkeeper Leo Roman, who made a string
of excellent saves.
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- With the Copa del Rey final on Saturday and Robert
Lewandowski injured, Barca coach Hansi Flick brought Hector Fort into defense,
while Eric Garcia started in midfield, and there was a rare appearance for Ansu
Fati in the starting 11, reports Xinhua.
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- With a slightly makeshift defense, Barcelona looked
slightly vulnerable in the opening minutes but quickly took control, with Pedri
controlling everything in midfield.
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- Chances began to rain down on the Mallorca goal, but
Roman consistently kept the ball out, and when he was beaten, Gavi saw his
effort bounce back off the post, while Ronald Araujo side-footed wide when he
looked certain to score and Ansu Fati also missed the target.
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- Another series of chances saw the ball ping around the
Mallorca penalty area, with Lamine Yamal and Fort both seeing shots blocked
from close range.
Read: FC Barcelona scrape home in Leganes to move seven points clear in La Liga
- Mallorca will be frustrated that, after some first-half
defensive heroics, Barca went ahead in the first minute of the second half,
with Olmo timing his run to arrive in space and score with a shot into the
corner that gave Roman no chance.
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- Cyle Larin caused problems for the Barcelona defense,
sending a couple of headers over the bar and stretching the defense with his
willing runs, but the best chance in the second half fell to Yamal. Pedri
slipped him through on goal, but Roman made himself big to make a vital block.
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