For the second time in two weeks Barca has delivered a tied match at a home game, this time against Spanish league rival Mallorca, thus missing the chance to post three points in La Liga standings. Adding insult to injury is the fact that Barca consistently dominated play throughout the match, scoring first in the 21st minute on a give-and-go through Messi-Alves-Pedro-Messi, who finished beautifully to put Barca ahead. Unfortunately, despite dominating possession and shots on goal, in the 42d minute Barca's usually-solid defense broke down, allowing Mallorca defenseman Emilio Nsue Lopez to sweep through six Barca defenders enroute to a beautiful header that equalized the score.
Although Barca once again dominated play in the second half, the Blaugrana were unable to find the magic against a Mallorca side that played defensive football, leading to the final tied score. For Mallorca, a tied score at Camp Nou is a good result, but for Barca it is not, leaving them 4 points under first-place Valencia and behind Real Madrid in league standings. Last week's tied score with Rubin Kazan was less damaging than this outcome-- Barcelona now cannot afford to miss any chance for points in La Liga, if they want to play for the league championship.
“LIKE A JEDI KNIGHT— no, better than that— A TEMPLAR KNIGHT. This is a FLASH OF PURE INSPIRATION, and let me tip my hat to the genesis of this goal: Ibarra. Lionel only absolutely LIGHTS IT UP here, he LIFTS OFF IT, FLAMETHROWERS IT PAST poor Reny Vega. It’s just as well Reny didn’t get a hand to that because it would have TAKEN IT OFF HIS WRIST. Superlative football and an out of this world BERNINI SCULPTURE of a finish." GOL TV Commentator Ray Hudson
