Barcelona experienced its first home loss of the season as they were unexpectedly defeated by Las Palmas, 2-1. This result marked a significant moment for Las Palmas, giving them their first victory at Barcelona in over 50 years, with Sandro Ramirez and Fábio Silva scoring for the visitors. Raphinha managed to equalize for Barcelona, but it was insufficient to secure a better outcome.
In the early part of the season, Barcelona thrived under coach Hansi Flick, boasting impressive wins against rivals such as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich and maintaining a perfect home record. However, the team has struggled in recent weeks, going three La Liga matches without a win, including a loss to Real Sociedad and a disappointing draw with Celta Vigo, where they squandered a two-goal advantage.
The defeat allows Real Madrid to potentially overtake Barcelona in the standings, as they sit four points behind with two games in hand. Raphinha expressed concern over the team’s recent performances, emphasizing the need for improvement ahead of their next match against Mallorca on Tuesday.
Las Palmas celebrated their historic win; this victory was only their third at Barcelona in 37 visits. Sandro, a former Barcelona youth player, expressed pride in the achievement, highlighting the team’s belief in their abilities to perform against stronger opponents.
In a concerning moment for Barcelona, left back Alejandro Balde was carried off the field after a collision, leaving the team to adjust defensively.
Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid maintained pressure on Barcelona, with Antoine Griezmann scoring a stunning goal in a 5-0 win against Valladolid, prompting local fans to applaud his performance.
On a lighter note, Espanyol triumphed over Celta 3-1, concluding a rough patch of four consecutive losses and easing the pressure on their coach.
Overall, while Barcelona faces challenges, including injuries and recent poor form, the situation gives them an opportunity to regroup and make adjustments, focusing on their upcoming games to reclaim their position in the league. With determination and strategy, fans may remain hopeful for a swift turnaround.