Messi leads Barcelona to a stunning win over Mallorca on return

Goals from Arturo Vidal, Martin Braithwaite, Jordi Alba, and Lionel Messi guided FC Barcelona to a convincing 4-0 La Liga win over RCD Mallorca on Saturday, making the perfect return to action after Spanish football’s three-month hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The win takes Barca on to 61 points after 28 games, five clear of nearest challenger Real Madrid, which hosts Eibar on Sunday in its first game back.

The game was played behind closed doors to prevent further spread of the novel coronavirus, but a fan wearing an Argentina shirt somehow made it on to the pitch, only to be swiftly taken away by security guards.

Luis Suarez made his first appearance since injuring his knee six months ago, coming off the bench in the second half, while his fellow Uruguayan Ronald Araujo hit the post shortly before Alba struck.

Mallorca occupies the final relegation spot in La Liga but despite the heavy loss, it gave a decent account of itself, with 19-year-old Japanese playmaker Takefusa Kubo pulling the strings.

The champions got off to a flying start when Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal scored with a diving header in the second minute, while Danish international Martin Braithwaite scored his first goal for Barca later in the first half.

Jordi Alba then added a third goal for Barca in the 79th minute after latching on to a through ball from Messi, who had also set up Braithwaite’s goal. The Argentine then completed the scoring with a deflected strike in stoppage time.

The game was played behind closed doors to prevent further spread of the novel coronavirus, but a fan wearing an Argentina shirt somehow made it on to the pitch, only to be swiftly taken away by security guards.

Kubo tested Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the first half while Ante Budimir, Lago Junior, and Abdon Prats all flashed shots just wide of the target after the interval.