Mallorca 0-4 Barca: Messi makes winning return with a goal and two assists

LaLiga leaders Barcelona beat Real Mallorca 4-0 in their first game back after the coronavirus-enforced hiatus.

Match Report

Arturo Vidal, Martin Braithwaite, Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi were all on target as Barcelona beat Real Mallorca 4-0 to make a winning return in LaLiga.

It had been three months since the leaders last played because of the coronavirus-enforced break, but they needed less than two minutes to go ahead through Vidal's header.

Braithwaite then fired in a second eight minutes before the break in a game that also saw the return of Luis Suarez from injury.

Alba struck11 minutes from time before Messi wrapped up victory in injury time as Barca went five points clear of Real Madrid ahead of Los Blancos' return to action on Sunday.

Match Events

2' GOAL! Mallorca 0-1 Barcelona (Vidal)

What a start! The midfielder powers a header low past Reina to break the deadlock in just 65 seconds. 1-0 Barca!

11' CLOSE! Griezmann misses a golden chance

37' GOAL! Mallorca 0-2 Barcelona (Braithwaite)

BRAITHWAITE! It's 2-0 to Barca! After a strong spell from Mallorca, Barca regain control and keep the pressure on. The hosts' failure to clear the ball in the box leads to a scrap in which De Jong towers over a defender to nod the ball on, and it falls Braithwaite's way after a touch from Messi. The Dane thumps high into the net.

59' MISS! Braithwaite's shot inches wide

79' GOAL! Mallorca 0-3 Barcelona (Alba)

ALBA! That should be that! 3-0 Barca! As in the first half, the visitors come flying out of the traps after the water break. Alba stays just onside to run clear and send Reina the wrong way with a cool finish.

93' GOAL! Mallorca 0-4 Barcelona (Messi)

MESSI! It's 4-0 and Barca's main man has his goal! This is what the leaders have been missing: the link-up between Suarez and Messi. The former feeds the latter, who jinks right and shoots high past Reina. This is harsh on Mallorca.

Line-ups

Mallorca XI: Manolo Reina, Budimir, Salva Sevilla, Marc Pedraza, Dani Rodríguez, Raillo, M. Valjent, Joan Sastre, J. Hernández, Pozo, T. Kubo

Subs: Salibur, P. Chavarría, Xisco Campos, J. Lago, A. Trajkovski, Abdón Prats, A. Sedlar, Josep Señé, Febas, Miquel Parera, Fran Gámez, I. Mohammed

Barcelona XI: Messi, Pique, Vidal, Alba, Busquets, Griezmann, Braithwaite, Ter Stegen, Roberto, De Jong, R. Araújo

Subs: Suarez, Rakitic, Neto, Umtiti, Semedo, Arthur, Firpo, Pena, Monchu, Riqui Puig, Álex Collado, Fati