Three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Mallorca | La Liga | OneFootball

A special remontada saw Barcelona take all three points against a spirited Celta Vigo last time out in a result which helped the team stay four points clear at the top.

Goals from Raphinha and Dani Olmo helped the team overturn a 1-3 deficit and register a 4-3 win on the night. While the comeback was indeed a pump of adrenaline, the fact of the matter remains that the team looked tired.

Later tonight, however, they will return to action as they play host to Mallorca in La Liga. The last time the two teams met this season, Barcelona pulled off a 5-1 win with an all-round performance, and the aim this time will be to inflict similar damage.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Mallorca.

The time to rotate is now

Hansi Flick must rotate his squad against Mallorca. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Fatigue is inevitable at this point in the season, and Barcelona suffer from it a little bit more because they continue to dream of a treble.

The Catalans do not have any of the three trophies in the bag yet, but are fighting on all fronts. As a result, their calendar continues to remain crammed with two games every week.

The Catalans were off-colour in their defeat to Borussia Dortmund last week and even looked like the worse side against Celta Vigo for close to an hour in their recent meeting.

Mallorca will not be easy by any measure, but Hansi Flick must look to rotate his troops on the night, simply given the games that lie ahead for his team.

Immediately after the game against Mallorca, Barcelona take on Real Madrid in the finale of the Copa del Rey and then host Inter Milan in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal.

A game against Real Valladolid later, they will take on the Nerazzuri once more, this time in Milan, and it is clear that three of the team’s next four games are against elite opposition.

Playing with a lower intensity, just enough to get over the line, is crucial tonight and Flick will likely look to rest some players who are in need of a break. Heavy rotations in the second half, with minutes for fringe stars is also highly likely.

A massive void in attack

Robert Lewandowski will miss the game through injury. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Barcelona may have got three vital points through Raphinha’s late winner against Celta Vigo at the weekend, but it did come at a price that the team was not prepared for.

It was Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona’s top scorer this season, who left the field injured on the night, and tests have subsequently confirmed that the player will require a few weeks out of action to recover.

The Polish star is thus ruled out of the Cup final and will likely play no part in the Champions League semifinal first leg either. Tonight’s game is a big test for the coach as he looks to find a solution to the newly created void.

Two options stand out for the manager – Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo – both of whom bring completely different profiles and setups to the team dynamics.

The Spanish winger would be the obvious choice to replace Lewandowski on the night, especially since his red-hot form continued against Celta Vigo, and he will feature as a striker should he start.

Olmo, meanwhile, can act as a false nine playing in Lewandowski’s position and create chaos in the Mallorca box. While it is a viable and golden solution, Flick may not prefer Olmo simply to safeguard him from injury once more.

Defensive step-up needed

Barcelona need to work on their defence. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

The high defensive line has been a talking point throughout Barcelona’s season, and a lot has been said about how it will come back to haunt them when it matters the most.

Truth be told, however, Barcelona have been as secure as ever despite playing the high line as long as their concentration in defence has been on point. Fatigue in recent games, however, has seen it all go awry.

The Catalans have now conceded three goals each in their last two games – first through a Sergio Guirassy hat-trick and then a Borja Iglesias hat-trick – and serious questions have to be asked about the alertness at the back.

Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi have usually gelled well this season, and it is possible that the game against Celta Vigo was a rare off night for the duo. Later tonight, all eyes will be on Barcelona’s defence to see if they can pull their form back together.

With Real Madrid and Inter Milan coming up next, the Blaugrana simply have no room for error, more so defensively. Implementing the offside trap to perfection and being alert at the back has never been more important.