Flick hails Yamal's return as spark for Barcelona's dominant win at Mallorca
The return of 17-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal to Barcelona's starting eleven after a period of injury significantly motivated the team, leading to their 5-1 victory over Mallorca, as stated by manager Hansi Flick on Tuesday.
During Yamal's four-week recovery from an ankle injury, Barcelona managed to secure only one point from three La Liga matches, allowing Real Madrid and other competitors to narrow the gap at the top of the table to just one point.
The decisive win against Mallorca marked the end of Barcelona's three-match winless streak, and Flick was quick to highlight Yamal's influence on the squad.
"Today, Yamal was crucial for us; he consistently brings positive energy to the team," Flick remarked to Movistar Plus.
"He could have netted one or two goals today; his performance was excellent.
"I am certainly pleased with the team's overall display. In the first half, we created numerous opportunities and scored, although they equalized through a counter-attack. Nevertheless, we persevered. The entire team is satisfied with our performance this evening."
Flick did not require the services of his star forward Robert Lewandowski for the match against Mallorca. The Polish striker, currently the top scorer in La Liga with 15 goals, was given a rest after participating in all 20 of Barcelona's matches across competitions.
Ferran Torres, who replaced Lewandowski, capitalized on Mallorca's defensive errors to secure an early goal for the visitors with a skillful shot.
"Lewandowski needed a break; we had to manage his workload," Flick explained.
"Ferran had an outstanding match and scored the opening goal, which is significant for him as well. He is always there when we need him. Today, we managed without Lewandowski."
Barcelona currently leads the league standings with 37 points, four points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who have two games in hand. Atletico Madrid sits in third place with 32 points and one game in hand.
SportsLigue