FC Barcelona B 3–1 Atlético Baleares: Display of character

A big win for Barça B at the Estadi Johan Cruyff against one of the toughest teams in their league. It took guts to recover after Atlètico Balears had taken the lead, but the team regrouped brilliantly to put an end to a disappointing series of results.

The Balearic Islanders are a team that takes their chances and are especially lethal from dead ball situations. That showed early on, and when Canario struck a free kick onto the crossbar, Tanque Vinicius was there to head in the rebound and put the visitors ahead on the half hour.

The goal seemed to wake up the Barça reserves and for the remainder of the half they had all the big chances. Aranda was especially outstanding but the efforts were not rewarded with an equaliser.

The script held after the restart, with the blaugrana on top. The entrance of U19 team player Estanislau Pedrola had an immediate impact and it was indeed the youngster who was on the end of an Aranda assist to finally get the sides back level.

Barça kept charging, and moments later were in the lead. Mika Marmol was there to drive home a left footed strike off a Matheus Pereira cross. 2-1 up, there was no let up from the home team, and they continued to dominate the midfield and create chance after chance.

Striker Ángel Rodado showed his exceptional poaching instinct in the area to get onto a clearance from an Aranada strike before anyone and slam home the third and definitive goal.

Atlético Baleares had no option but to push forward in search of something, but some top goalkeeping from Arnau Tenas meant the scoreline held and Barça B have moved up to seventh in the table.

Next up is the short trip down the road to Cornellà on Sunday. .  

MATCH STATS

 Barça B: Arnau Tenas, Guillem Jaime, Arnau Comas, Mika Marmol, Álvaro Sanz, Rodado, Nils Mortimer (Estanislau Pedrola, min 46), Matheus (L. De Vega, min 88), Peque Polo, Aranda, Arnau Solá.

Atlético Baleares: Rene, Ferrone, Ignasi, Carlos Delgado, José Fran (José Fran, min 71),  Cordero (Martínez, min 71), Vinicius Tanque, Canario, Dioni (Isi Ros, min 71),  Damián, Pedro Orfila.

Goals: 0-1, Vinicius Tanque (min 30), 1-1, Estanislau Pedrola (min 53), 2-1, Mika Marmol (min 61), 3-1, Ángel Rodado (min 63).