Barcelona’s 125th anniversary celebration took an unexpected turn as they suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat against Las Palmas on Saturday. The loss extends Barcelona’s winless streak in LaLiga to three games, despite them controlling 70% of possession and registering nearly 30 attempts on goal.
The match displayed a tale of missed opportunities for Barcelona, who struggled to convert their dominance into goals. Las Palmas capitalized on the chances they created, moving themselves up to 14th place in the league standings with 15 points from this victory.
Barcelona’s coach Hansi Flick acknowledged the team’s struggles in front of goal, stating, “When we don’t score the goals, the team struggles a little bit and this is what we have to change.” He emphasized the need for a collective defensive effort from the entire team.
The game began with Las Palmas creating chances but failing to find the net. Tragedy struck for Barcelona as full-back Alejandro Balde had to be carted off due to injury in the first half. Barcelona did make an attempt to equalize after Las Palmas took the lead with a goal from Sandro Ramirez early in the second half. Raphinha managed to score the equalizer later, but Las Palmas responded quickly with Fábio Silva netting the winner.
Las Palmas midfielder Alberto Moleiro expressed pride in the team’s performance, saying, “It’s such a big win for us, we worked so hard and we suffered a lot. It’s three important points.” Their ability to stay compact in defense and effectively take advantage of their chances proved crucial for their success.
While this defeat was a setback for Barcelona, it emphasizes the challenges each team faces in a competitive league. They maintain a four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, who have two games in hand, presenting a chance for Barcelona to regroup and refocus as they push through this challenging period.
In summary, despite the disappointment of the match, the opportunity for Barcelona to learn and improve remains promising, allowing them to potentially bounce back stronger in the upcoming matches.