Barcelona faced a surprising defeat at home for the first time this season, falling 2-1 to Las Palmas on Saturday. This loss marked a significant moment for Las Palmas, as it was their first win at the iconic Camp Nou in over 50 years. Sandro Ramirez and Fábio Silva scored for the visitors, while Raphinha managed to equalize briefly for Barcelona.
Under the guidance of new coach Hansi Flick, Barcelona started the season exceptionally well, achieving eight successive home victories. However, their form has dipped recently, with three La Liga matches without a win, including a previous loss to Real Sociedad and a draw against Celta Vigo, where they squandered a two-goal lead late in the match.
As a result of this unexpected loss, Madrid can leapfrog Barcelona in the league standings. They currently trail Barcelona by only four points but have two games in hand. Raphinha expressed disappointment, emphasizing the need for the team to assess their mistakes and work hard to regain their winning form, with a crucial match against Mallorca coming up.
Las Palmas celebrated a historic victory, as this was just their third win against Barcelona overall, with their other visits resulting in numerous defeats. Sandro, a former Barcelona youth player, expressed pride in their achievement, asserting their belief in hard work leading to success against larger opponents.
In another notable incident during the match, Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde had to be stretchered off after a collision early in the game, raising concerns for his fitness. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid put pressure on the league leaders with a stunning 5-0 victory over last-placed Valladolid, where Antoine Griezmann scored a spectacular goal that earned applause from the opposing fans.
Espanyol managed to turn their fortunes around as well, securing a 3-1 victory over Celta to end their losing streak and relieve some pressure on head coach Manolo González.
This weekend’s action serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of football, where underdog victories and surprising performances can shake up the standings. As Barcelona prepares for their next match, fans will be hopeful for a turnaround to regain momentum and aim for the top of La Liga once more.