Sat Jan 5 17:56:05 2008

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Barcelona downs Mallorca with strong second half

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Palma, Spain (Sports Network) - Barcelona got second-half goals from Rafael Marquez and Samuel Eto'o as the club overcame a slow first half to record a 2-0 win over Mallorca at Estadio Son Moix on Saturday.

The win moves Barcelona to within four points of league-leaders Real Madrid, who will host Real Zaragoza on Sunday. The result also continues Barca's dominance over Mallorca, which has now lost its last nine games against Frank Rijkaard's side.

Barcelona controlled the possession in the first half but was unable to make it count as the Catalan side failed to produce a quality chance in the opening 45 minutes.

Mallorca, meanwhile, made the most of the time it had on the ball and threatened the Barca net on a pair of occasions. The first chance came in the ninth minute when Daniel Guiza got into the box on the left and shook free from his defender before curling a shot just inches wide of the far post.

The hosts played well over the first 25 minutes and nearly went in front midway through the half. Angelos Basinas picked up a loose ball near the top of the box and smacked a shot from 20 yards that skipped narrowly past the right post.

Despite a poor first half, the visitors gradually began to get their attack going, and they went in front in the 63rd courtesy of a corner kick. Xavi swung a cross into the area and Marquez met the ball at the near post, sending a glancing header into the far corner past Mallorca goalkeeper German Lux.

Barca kept the pressure on and came within inches of making it a two-goal game. Xavi slid a pass into the box for Carles Puyol, and the Barca captain drove the ball through the face of goal to Thierry Henry. The former Arsenal striker put the ball in the back of the net, but the play was called back for offsides.

Henry nearly scored again just one minute later when he danced past two Mallorca defenders and smacked a shot towards the far post. Lux was up to the task and got a hand to the shot to keep it out, but Barca would add a second goal in stoppage time as Eto'o drove a shot from 30 yards inside the left post.

In Saturday's other contest in Spain, Raul Tamudo scored a pair of goals to help Espanyol remain in third place with a 3-0 win over Villarreal.