Chapter 107: Mallorca’s Onslaught
Compared to the dynamic display from Ronaldinho, Barcelona's star Rivaldo looked rather lackluster in this game.
Just as Coach José had predicted, Rivaldo's explosive goal-scoring burst in the first half had taken a toll on his stamina—no matter how brilliant a striker may be, after a period of extraordinary form his output can naturally decline. Moreover, Barcelona's tactic of immediately looking for Rivaldo as soon as they regained possession was proving easily countered. Even though Ronaldinho was drawing plenty of attention with his flair, Barcelona's defensive strategy couldn't quite neutralize him. Ronaldinho is an essential part of Mallorca's attack, but not the entire engine. With Mota and Ngonga orchestrating the buildup from deeper positions, even if Ronaldinho were to be tightly marked, the ball would eventually find its way to Ibáñez, Luke, or even Eto'o, who could then create the space Ronaldinho needed.
Under these circumstances, Mallorca's offensive pressure began to steadily overwhelm Barcelona.
Barcelona's defense had never been particularly solid. They were known for their attacking mindset—even their defenders, when in possession, often preferred to pass forward rather than simply clear the ball. That habit works fine when under little pressure, but when the opposition forces them, it increases the risk of costly errors.
In the 67th minute, Mallorca launched a dazzling counterattack from midfield. Ronaldinho, evading the marking of Petit with a burst of speed, delivered a stunning through pass. Luke made a surging run from the flank and once again found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper!
José leaped to his feet; if that chance were converted, the match would practically be decided. Facing the onrushing Ditrul, Luke fired a shot into the bottom right corner. Yet Ditrul reacted swiftly—diving and managing to parry the ball with one hand. A collective groan rose from the stands.
"Luke wasted a golden opportunity!" the commentators lamented. "His movement was exquisite, but his finishing at the near post seems lacking. In the first half, Luke could have scored directly—had it not been for Ditrul's heroics. Luckily, Eto'o was there to pounce on the rebound!"
Luke could indeed score many goals, but perhaps because he is a more well-rounded player, he wasn't the prolific striker some might expect. There are few perfect forwards in this world.
Just as José was shaking his head in resignation, the ball flew toward the right side of the penalty area. Sergi controlled it with a deft touch and began to turn, intending to distribute it. That was exactly the kind of move that Barcelona's defenders are used to—upon gaining possession, their instinct isn't to clear the ball, but to pass and launch an attack.