Mallorca 1 - Barcelona 3

Mallorca: Moyà; David Cortés, Ballesteros, Müller, Poli (Tuni 65'); Pereyra (Nadal 75'); Marcos Vales (Delibasic 46'), Farinós, Jorge López, Arango; Luis García. 4-1-4-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti, Puyol, Oleguer, Gio Van Bronckhorst; Xavi, Edmilson (Gerard 46'), Deco (Fernando Navarro 75'); Ronaldinho; Larsson, Eto'o (Iniesta 64'). 4-3-1-2.

Team changes: Mallorca: Farinós for Marcos / Barcelona: Belletti, Oleguer, Van Bronckhorst, Larsson for Gabri, Márquez, Sylvinho, Giuly.

Goals:
0-1. 10. Larsson. From close up after Xavi laid back Van Bronckhorst cross.
0-2. 38. Eto'o (penalty). After Ronaldinho brought down by Ballesteros.
0-3. 40. Eto'o. Lifted ball over Moyà and round round to score into empty net.
1-3. 77. Delibasic. Headed past Valdés from Luis García's chipped cross.

Barcelona had no trouble beating Mallorca 1-3 in the next to last game of the weekend to stay in second place in the table, and could have won by a bigger score had they taken their chances. Larsson in particular failed to beat Moyà three times before the break, but he did get the opening goal early on after Xavi's attempted shot from Ronaldinho's cross fell to him after it was blocked by a defender in the tenth minute.

All interest though was on Samuel Eto'o, who was returning to the San Moix stadium, and he was to score twice in the first half, the first from the penalty spot after Ronaldinho was brought down by Ballesteros, and then when Larsson set him up to lob the ball cleverly over the keeper and run round to score. The Camerooni refused to celebrate either goal though out of respect for his ex fans, and he was given an ovation by them when he was substituted in the second half.

Barça's injury worries continued though, with Márquez having to give up his place in the starting line up to Oleguer after pulling a muscle in the pre-match warm up, and Edmilson limping off at the break after picking up a knock. At half time he Catalans were technically at the top of the table with a marginally better goal difference than Valencia, but they took their foot off the accelerator and allowed Mallorca to take control. Delibasic and Arango shot wide and Víctor Valdés had to turn a Luis García free kick for a corner before Delibasic pulled one back, heading past the keeper on the far post after Luis García hooked the ball across.

That knocked Barcelona off the top of the table, but with a three point gap over the third place opening up and the new signings settling in quickly, they are already well placed for a shot at the title. Mallorca fell to their third home defeat in a row, but thankfully for them they have been able to pick up points away from home this season.