Barca beat Mallorca to stretch La Liga lead, Osasuna down Celta

Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal scored as Barcelona eased to a comfortable 3-0 win over Mallorca on Saturday to move four points clear at the top of La Liga.

The champions extended the gap to Real Madrid in second before Alvaro Arbeloa’s side visits Valencia on Sunday, with Marc Bernal also on target late on at the partially reopened Camp Nou stadium.

Mallorca target man Vedat Muriqi came close early on as he slid in at the back post but hit the side netting, while Jan Virgili’s shot was saved by Joan Garcia.

Marcus Rashford added some urgency into Barca’s game after a slow start, curling inches wide of the far post after cutting in from the left.

A blocked shot from the England international led to the opener, with Dani Olmo knocking the rebound to Lewandowski to finish from close range on 29 minutes.

Rashford’s dangerous free-kick was tipped onto the bar by Mallorca stopper Leo Roman, and Yamal missed from point blank range as Jules Kounde sent the rebound into his path.

The 18-year-old made amends in the second half with a superb shot from outside the area which left Roman with no chance.

Marc Casado struck the crossbar with a deflected effort as Barca could have opened up a wider lead.

At the other end, Garcia earned his clean sheet with a good save to thwart Antonio Sanchez, before Bernal rounded off Barca’s victory.

The young midfielder broke in behind the Mallorca defence, showed composure to open up a shooting angle and finished with the aid of a deflection.

Earlier on Saturday, La Liga postponed Rayo Vallecano’s home match against Real Oviedo because of the condition of the pitch at the Madrid’s side’s Vallecas stadium.

A late goal from Raul Garcia de Haro gave Osasuna a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo and dealt the home side a first defeat at Estadio Abanca-Balaídos since November.

Garcia de Haro got on the end of Alejandro Catena’s clever knock down with 11 minutes remaining to side-foot the ball home at the far post.

Ante Budimir put visiting Osasuna ahead shortly before halftime with his 11th goal of the season only for Borja Iglesias to equalize from the spot for Celta eight minutes into the second half.

Celta’s winless run was extended to four games in all competitions and left it in seventh place.

Osasuna was one place behind and closed the gap between the teams to four points.

“This is out second consecutive away win,” Budimir said. “We competed very well and we got what we deserved through hard work.”

Barca confirm exit failed European Super League: Spanish giants Barcelona confirmed their withdrawal from the failed breakaway European Super League project on Saturday, leaving Real Madrid as the only club still involved.

“Barcelona hereby announces that today it has formally notified the European Super League Company and the clubs involved of its withdrawal from the European Super League project,” said the Catalans in a statement.

Barca president Joan Laporta said in October 2025 Barcelona wanted to reestablish links with UEFA, moving away from the project launched by 12 clubs in 2021 which quickly collapsed under the weight of immense fan and institutional pressure.

Shortly after the semi-closed Super League project was announced five years ago, the six English clubs involved — Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea — withdrew.

Four other clubs, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus, followed by 2024, leaving only Barca and Real Madrid still involved in the project championed by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

“We are in favour of peace because there is a way forward for the clubs in the Super League to return to UEFA,” said Barca chief Laporta in October.

“We feel very close to UEFA and the EFC (European Football Clubs, a sole, independent body representing football clubs within Europe).”

In 2024, a Spanish court ruled opposition to the Super League from world and European football governing bodies FIFA and UEFA “prevented free competition”, and in 2025 an appeal from UEFA was rejected.

As a result, Real Madrid and the Super League, promoted by the A22 Sports Management group, were seeking more than $4 billion in damages from UEFA, a source told AFP.