Comfortable but unconvincing win for Barcelona to remain top in Spain
Comfortable but unconvincing win for Barcelona to remain top in Spain
12:17, November 08, 2009 
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A comfortable but uninspiring 4-2 win against Mallorca gave FC Barcelona another three points that keeps Pep Guardiola' s side top of the BBVA Primera Liga in Spain.
Barcelona went into the game against a rival that is strong at home, but weak away, on the back of two consecutive draws and a long return flight from Russia on Thursday.
Perhaps because of tiredness in the squad, Guardiola opted to leave star player Leo Messi and Spain international midfielders Xabi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta on the substitutes' bench along with full back Dani Alves.
Sergio Busquets and Toure Yaya started in midfield and Barcelona lacked fluency in its passing, although a strong swirling wind also complicated flowing football.
Nevertheless, Barcelona opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Zlatan Ibrahimovich laid the ball off with a neat backheel for young winger Pedro Rodriguez to score.
Mallorca leveled seven minutes later as Barcelona failed to deal with a corner, which Nunes headed home after the ball got a touch from Barca defender Gerard Pique.
Barcelona looked to control the game, but was unable to string any trademark passing moves together.
However, after 40 minutes Pedro scored his second of the night after chaos in the Mallorca area.
The youngster first fired a volley which Mallorca keeper Dudu Aouate did well to parry. With the ball bouncing around his area, Aouate made two more stunning saves, but was unable to stop Pedro when the ball fell back to the winger, who scored from 8 yards out.
Barcelona added a third a minute from half time as Thierry Henry scored a close range header following more good work from Ibrahimovich.
Guardiola brought his stars on as the second half progressed, but the game was played at a slow pace and there was little incident until the 86th minute when Messi scored Barcelona's fourth goal from the penalty spot following a foul on Ibrahimovich.
Keita scored a consolation goal for the visitors two minutes into injury time.
Source:Xinhua
Barcelona went into the game against a rival that is strong at home, but weak away, on the back of two consecutive draws and a long return flight from Russia on Thursday.
Perhaps because of tiredness in the squad, Guardiola opted to leave star player Leo Messi and Spain international midfielders Xabi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta on the substitutes' bench along with full back Dani Alves.
Sergio Busquets and Toure Yaya started in midfield and Barcelona lacked fluency in its passing, although a strong swirling wind also complicated flowing football.
Nevertheless, Barcelona opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Zlatan Ibrahimovich laid the ball off with a neat backheel for young winger Pedro Rodriguez to score.
Mallorca leveled seven minutes later as Barcelona failed to deal with a corner, which Nunes headed home after the ball got a touch from Barca defender Gerard Pique.
Barcelona looked to control the game, but was unable to string any trademark passing moves together.
However, after 40 minutes Pedro scored his second of the night after chaos in the Mallorca area.
The youngster first fired a volley which Mallorca keeper Dudu Aouate did well to parry. With the ball bouncing around his area, Aouate made two more stunning saves, but was unable to stop Pedro when the ball fell back to the winger, who scored from 8 yards out.
Barcelona added a third a minute from half time as Thierry Henry scored a close range header following more good work from Ibrahimovich.
Guardiola brought his stars on as the second half progressed, but the game was played at a slow pace and there was little incident until the 86th minute when Messi scored Barcelona's fourth goal from the penalty spot following a foul on Ibrahimovich.
Keita scored a consolation goal for the visitors two minutes into injury time.
Source:Xinhua
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