Barca back to winning ways

Barcelona got back to winning in the Spanish league in style, routing Mallorca 5-1 with a pair of goals by Raphinha.

Ferran Torres, Frenkie de Jong and Pau Victor also scored for Barcelona, who hadn’t won in three consecutive league games to allow Real Madrid to inch closer at the top of the standings. Madrid are now four points back although they have two games in hand.

Torres, who got to start in place of league-leading scorer Robert Lewandowski, opened the scoring in the 12th minute after Mallorca defenders failed to clear an easy ball from inside the area. One defender tried to kick it away but it ended ricocheting off a teammate to give Ferran an easy shot on goal.

The hosts equalised with Vedat Muriqi in a breakaway just before halftime in what was Mallorca’s only shot on target, but Raphinha put Barcelona back in front by converting a 56th-minute penalty kick. He added to the lead in the 74th after a nice assist by Lamine Yamal.

Raphinha now has 11 goals in 16 league games this season. “This is probably my best moment, but I want to do more,” Raphinha said. “We knew it was important to win again after three matches in which something was lacking. It wasn’t our best match, but it was important to win.”