Barcelona suffered its first home defeat of the season, losing 2-1 to Las Palmas in a surprising upset. The Liga leaders were caught off guard as Sandro Ramirez and Fábio Silva scored for the visiting team, while Raphinha was able to briefly equalize for Barcelona. This marked Las Palmas’ first win at Barcelona in over five decades, with their last victory dating back to the 1971-72 season.
Despite a strong start to the season under new coach Hansi Flick, including wins against top teams like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, Barcelona has stumbled recently, remaining winless over the last three La Liga matches. Their recent performances included a 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad and a draw with Celta Vigo where they relinquished a two-goal lead. This downturn has allowed Real Madrid, who are just four points behind with two games in hand, to threaten Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table.
Raphinha expressed concern about the team’s slipping form, emphasizing the need for a collective reevaluation before their upcoming match against Mallorca. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid is closely following Barcelona, sitting just two points behind after a resounding 5-0 victory over last-placed Valladolid, highlighted by a remarkable goal from Antoine Griezmann.
Sandro, who scored for Las Palmas, reflected on the historic win, reinforcing the belief that hard work can yield unexpected results against stronger opponents. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal returned from injury as a second-half substitute, but the team’s efforts were hampered by an early injury to left back Alejandro Balde, who was carried off the field.
In other matches, Espanyol managed to break their losing streak with a 3-1 victory over Celta, lifting some pressure off coach Manolo González, while Alaves played to a 1-1 draw with Leganes.
Overall, the results this weekend have created a more competitive landscape in La Liga, with both Barcelona and Real Madrid under pressure to find their rhythm. The unpredictability of the league remains a key theme, bringing a sense of hope that surprises like Las Palmas’s victory could shake up the status quo moving forward.
In summary, while Barcelona faces challenges, this season’s unfolding narrative presents opportunities for resilience and recovery. Fans can look forward to the team’s next match with hope for a turnaround, illustrated by their past victories and the commitment of players like Raphinha to improve their standing in the league.