Barcelona faced an unexpected setback on Saturday, suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to Las Palmas. This loss marked their first at Camp Nou this season, putting an end to their previous perfect home record. The Canary Islands club celebrated their first win at Barcelona in over 50 years, with goals from Sandro Ramirez and Fábio Silva, sandwiching an equalizer from Raphinha.
Under new coach Hansi Flick, Barcelona started the season strongly, enjoying significant victories against top teams like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. However, they have struggled recently, failing to secure a win in their last three La Liga matches. This streak included a loss to Real Sociedad and a draw against Celta Vigo, during which they squandered a two-goal lead.
Raphinha, acknowledging the team’s current form, emphasized the need for a turnaround ahead of their next match against Mallorca. As Barcelona faces increasing pressure, arch-rivals Real Madrid are now within striking distance, trailing Barcelona by just four points while having two games in hand.
Las Palmas, on the other hand, relished their historic win, with Sandro expressing joy over breaking a 50-year drought at Camp Nou. The match also saw Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal return from injury, although Alejandro Balde had to be stretchered off after a collision in the early minutes.
In other results, Atletico Madrid kept the pressure on Barcelona with a decisive 5-0 victory over Valladolid, featuring a standout goal from Antoine Griezmann. Meanwhile, Espanyol snapped their losing streak with a 3-1 victory against Celta.
Despite this loss, there’s hope for Barcelona to regain their momentum as they prepare for their upcoming match. With a deep roster and strong coaching, they have the potential to bounce back and continue contending for the league title. The return of injured players and the team’s determination can pave the way for a positive shift in their season.