Yamal strike hands Barca win over Mallorca, Napoli held to home draw by Torino

Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal struck a fine late goal to secure a hard-fought 1-0 home win against plucky Mallorca on Friday to move within five points of leaders Real Madrid in La Liga.  

The victory put the hosts provisionally in second place on 61 points, two clear of Girona, as they closed in on Real, who host struggling Celta Vigo on Sunday. Copa del Rey finalists Mallorca stay in 15th on 27 points, eight clear of the relegation zone.

"Effectiveness is what made this a tough game for us. They did a very good job. It was hard for us," Barca boss Xavi Hernandez said.

"We competed well, we created clear chances to win more than 1-0. But we've won, the three points are welcome".

Yamal, 16, put Barca ahead in the 73rd minute with a brilliant curling shot into the top left-hand corner from the edge of the area for his fourth league goal this season.

Ilkay Gundogan could have given his side a lead in the 24th minute with a penalty following a video assistant referee (VAR) check for a challenge on Raphinha, but the attempt was denied by Mallorca goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic.

Elsewhere in Europe, Napoli had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Torino after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's strike was cancelled out by substitute Antonio Sanabria's overhead kick in Serie A.

Reigning champions Napoli stay seventh on 44 points, seven behind Bologna in fourth, and their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are fading.

Kvaratskhelia scored his 10th league goal of the season in the 61st minute by skillfully guiding home a cross from Mario Rui after missing several chances earlier in the match. But three minutes later Sanabria equalized with a bicycle kick a minute after coming on, firing the ball into the roof of the net despite the efforts of goalkeeper Alex Meret.

(With input from Reuters)