Dropping crucial points at the wrong time - Barca held by Mallorca!

Barcelona vs Mallorca is less than an hour away from starting and I thought of doing something a bit different for this match's review. I think I have done it once in the past, but back then I wasn't doing sports blogs on a regular basis. I am going to write sort of a live commentary...well not commentary exactly, but my thoughts on the game as it happens live.

While we wait, the lineup has been confirmed and I couldn't be happier with it! There are a lot of things to like, and to be relieved about as well with this lineup. Let's have a look at the lineup first.

While we're on the topic of doing things a bit different, I have always wondered how the visuals of the lineup is created. I never bothered to find out until today, and it is as simple as it gets. I built mine on buildlineup.com

Created using Buildlineup

Joules kounde has played every possible minute for Barca since the start of this season. Christiensen played almost every miniute since araujo got injured earlier this season. With how bad our injury luck is, fans have been left scratching their heads for Xavi to give these two a break. And it seems he has finally answered the fans' call! Both Kounde and Christiensen has been rested and Ronald Araujo and finally Inigo Martinez starts in the center of the defense. Robert Lewandowski also finally gets a much deserved break.

But the best thing I liked about the lineup is Ferran Torres finally starting through the middle which is where he looked the most dangerous in pre season. Also, Raphinha finally gets back into the starting 11 before losing his place right at the first game of the season.

We'll see how this lineup fares.

Start

I think I got my placement a bit wrong, Gavi is linking up with felix on the left and Gundogan with Raphinha on the right.

A rare mistake from Ter stegen and Mallorca lead within 8 minutes. Inigo martinez looking really shaky and slow there. He's having a difficul first half.

Refereeing shitty as ever. Ref seems to have left his yellow card at home.

But props to Mallorca, they've made a very positive start to the match. Still not worried too much, there's a belief in this team. The only worry so far is we are losing the ball too often.

Mallorca has parked the bus. 8 man in defense! This is why La Liga is utterly nonsense and can never match the excitement of Premier League.

I'm not sure if crossing the ball into the Mallorca box is the right option here for Barca. They will always have 6-7 men in there.

This ref is an absolute joke! Real Madrid has paid him well!

HOLY SHIT, RAPHINHA! 1-1!

What a strike! Power, quality, accuracy!

Raphinha sees both sides of the coin within minutes. He skies the chance, Barca should have been 2-1 up here.

And minutes later Joao Felix denied by a great save! We should have been leading.

And out of nowhere Mallorca lead again. Poor defending from Barca.

Half Time.

Mallorca are watering the pitch even more. It looks like we're playing in a puddle of water and not a football pitch. This team are utterly disgraceful.

The second half has been utterly sedating so far except for Felix hitting the post out of nowhere. Seems like we'll need some magic like that if we are to scrap out of this game. Panic starting to creep in.

Lamine yamal on for felix. Raphinha switches to midfield. Not sure if it's wise. Fermin lopez on for Romeu makes sense, we need attacking threat.

And as soon as he's on, Lamine yamal draws a foul in the penalty box. Given as a penalty, overturned by VAR! How on earth has this not been given a penalty!

_^Screenshot

FERMIN LOPEZ! 2-2!

Great interplay between Lamine Yamal and Raphinha before Lewandowski does a clever dummy to let Fermin run in on goal! Great play overall!

Kounde coming on for I.Martinez. I'd have preferred kounde had a full game off today, but by the state of the game, we need kounde to add some defensive solidity. Right call from Xavi.

Disappointing end, should have won the game when we had two clear opportunities to go ahead. We just handed Real madrid the advantage again and they can go top of the table tomorrow.

The penalty could have made all the difference, we could have taken all 3 points. Even the Mallorca coach admitted that should have been a penalty. Tells you how much on Real madrid's payroll the referees are! Disgrace to the league.

But still, we should have had the game sealed by the first half had it not been for Raphinha and Ferran Torres missing what should have been easy-ish goals.

We should have taken the momentum to pile up pressure on real madrid, but oh well! It's a long season.