Las Palmas had been within the relegation battle after they took on Barcelona earlier this season and had been seen as underdogs within the sport that they finally went on to shockingly win.
Tomorrow evening, meet the identical opposition as soon as extra, this time within the reverse fixture in La Liga. Their state of affairs, nonetheless, is equally dire as they’re degree on factors with relegation-threatened Valencia.
Las Palmas are in a horrible second and have misplaced six of their final seven video games throughout all competitions. Even the one sport they didn’t lose was a tame draw towards Osasuna.
Having dropped 16 of their final 18 factors in La Liga, the Canary Island-based facet shall be seeking to strike again and file a much-needed win tomorrow.
Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Las Palmas vs Barcelona.
A rating to settle
November and December of 2024 had been maybe the worst months of the season thus far for Barcelona they usually entered freefall in La Liga and succumbed to fatigue.
At the moment, the Catalans merely struggled to win within the home competitors regardless of their success on different fronts and dropped factors in six out of seven consecutive league video games.
Of the groups they went down towards was Las Palmas, and what made the end result extra surprising was the truth that it transpired on residence soil.
Hansi Flick’s facet by no means actually acquired going towards the Canary Islands-based workforce and suffered a setback when Sandro Ramirez put Las Palmas forward simply after the restart.
Raphinha quickly equalised for Barcelona simply over ten minutes later, however Las Palmas had been fast to pounce again by means of Fabio Silva and took residence all three factors after Barcelona filed to seek out an equaliser as soon as extra.
The end result marked the opposition’s first win towards Barcelona in over 25 years and despatched the Catalans down the standings. Tomorrow, Flick’s males thus have a rating to settle and dropping factors as soon as extra shouldn’t be an choice.
Measured rotations
The previous two weeks have seen Barcelona lastly catch a deserved break after months of gruelling fixtures and a busy calendar. In spite of everything, they’ve loved near per week between video games for the primary time this season.
The hectic schedule, nonetheless, is only a stone’s throw away and it’s time for the Blaugrana to maneuver up the gears as soon as extra.
Days after the sport towards Las Palmas at Estadi Gran Canaria, Barcelona play host to Atletico Madrid within the Copa del Rey earlier than taking up Actual Sociedad in La Liga.
The main target will then shift to the UEFA Champions League the place they play towards Benfica earlier than the reverse fixtures towards Atletico Madrid and Benfica arrive.
Again to having two video games per week, Flick will thus tomorrow evening and it’s clear that the league video games would be the chosen ones to take the chance.
The likes of Marc Casado and Dani Olmo who’ve began on the bench lately could thus make their method again into the beginning lineup. Additionally on the playing cards is a rotation at centre-back with Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia making robust instances to start out.
In assault, the supervisor might look to reward Ferran Torres with a begin as properly, relying on how the ahead trio of Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski are feeling.
Mounting stress
For weeks now, Barcelona have been enjoying catch-up in La Liga after they squandered their lead and handed it over to Actual Madrid.
Los Blancos, nonetheless, have dropped factors of their final three video games and handed the lead again over to Barcelona final weekend.
After the 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, the Azulgranas are on high of the standings albeit solely forward of Actual Madrid on purpose distinction. On condition that they play earlier than their arch-rivals this weekend, they’ve an ideal probability to mount stress on them.
Carlo Ancelotti’s facet have had a extra busy week as they hosted Manchester Metropolis within the second leg of their UCL knockout playoff tie on Wednesday.
Ought to Barcelona take three factors, they’ll immediately put stress on the boys in white who will fall behind ought to they drop factors as soon as extra.
Whereas Flick could properly select to rotate towards Las Palmas, it’s essential that the Blaugrana carry residence all three factors. In spite of everything, they can not let the lead slip away from them days after having it handed again.
