Barça’s 125th anniversary bash didn’t go as planned. Las Palmas pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory, leaving fans at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in disbelief. Despite dominating possession (a whopping 70%) and raining down 30 shots, Barça just couldn’t capitalize, extending their winless streak in LaLiga to three games.
Early Struggles and Missed Opportunities
Las Palmas made the most of their chances. Their sharp, efficient play in the opening stages had Barça scrambling to defend. Yet, the visitors couldn’t convert their early chances.
Adding to Barça’s woes, full-back Alejandro Balde left the field injured in the first half, a blow for the young 21-year-old and the team.
Just before halftime, Raphinha sparked hope with a blazing counter-attack. His effort, however, rattled off the crossbar, summing up Barça’s frustrating evening.
Second Half Drama
The fireworks truly began in the second half. Las Palmas struck first with a moment of brilliance. Sandro Ramírez, a former Barça player, drilled a low shot past Iñaki Peña, completing a slick passing sequence initiated by keeper Jasper Cillessen.
Barça clawed back into the game soon after. Pedri found Raphinha on the edge of the box. The Brazilian winger turned on a dime, firing a left-footed rocket into the net for his ninth league goal of the season.
Fábio Silva Seals the Deal
Las Palmas weren’t done. Wolverhampton loanee Fábio Silva dashed Barça’s hopes with a clinical finish. Latching onto Javi Muñoz’s pass, he broke the offside trap and coolly slotted the ball home.
Barcelona pressed hard for an equalizer. Raphinha’s free kick was expertly tipped over by Cillessen. Robert Lewandowski, LaLiga’s top scorer, had two golden chances in injury time but came up empty-handed—a glancing header went wide, and a goal-bound shot was blocked by a resolute defense.
What the Coaches and Players Said
Coach Hansi Flick didn’t mince words: “We’ve got to defend better as a team, not just the backline. If we can’t score, we’ve got to at least keep a clean sheet.”
Las Palmas midfielder Alberto Moleiro celebrated the win, saying, “We stayed compact, kept our lines tight, and made the most of our chances. It’s a massive three points for us.”
The loss leaves Barça on 34 points, four ahead of second-place Real Madrid, but with Madrid holding two games in hand. Meanwhile, Las Palmas climbed to 14th place with 15 points.
