Match Preview: FC Barcelona v Las Palmas

Las Palmas visit Camp Nou for the first time in 13 years in the league following their successful promotion from the Second Division last season via the play offs. Barça will be looking to bounce back after their first league defeat of the season on Wednesday at Celta and the visitors to build on their first win of the campaign which came on the same day against struggling Sevilla.

Team news

Sandro Ramírez has been declared fully fit and is included in the 18 man list announced on Saturday morning, but Jordi Alba is still missing with neck pain. Gerard Gumbau of Barça B is once again included in the team.

With Claudio Bravo, Rafinha (following an operation this week) and Vermaelen also absent, the definitive squad is as follows: Ter Stegen, Masip, Gerard Piqué, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Dani Alves, Andrés Iniesta, Luis Suárez, Leo Messi, Neymar Jr, Mascherano, Marc Bartra, Munir, Sandro, Sergi Roberto, Adriano, Mathieu and Gerard Gumbau.

Las Palmas coach Paco Herrera named his 19 man squad on Friday for the trip to Camp Nou. Javi Garrido and Nauzet Alemán were included for the first time this season. Vicente Gómez is out and Tana, Ángel López and Javi Castellano are all still missing due to injury.

Coaches’ viewpoint

Barça coach Luis Enrique made the traditional appearance before the press on Friday, the day before the game against Las Palmas. At the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, the Asturian coach admitted that he was looking for the positives from Wednesday’s reverse in Vigo: "The loss in Vigo teaches us how tough it is to win" he said.

Las Palmas coach Paco Herrera’s main worry was that the occasion would overawe his players on their visit to Camp Nou. The Catalan born manager revealed he did not want his team to “freeze” when they came up against the team that achieved a historic treble last season.

Form guide

The blaugranes’ perfect start to the league season, four wins from their first four matches, came to an end on Wednesday in the Balaídos stadium with a 4-1 defeat away at Celta. Barça, however, have won eight of their last nine league games at Camp Nou, scoring at least twice in eight of those nine encounters.

Las Palmas recorded their first victory in the Spanish First Division for 13 years with a 2-0 win over Sevilla on Wednesday. Goals from Roque Mesa and Alcaraz mean Paco Herrera’s team pull away from the bottom of the table and they currently sit in 12th place.

History

The last time the two sides met in the First Division was back in 2002. Luis Enrique scored that day in a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou. Las Palmas have only ever won twice in the league at Barça in 31 visits, the last time back in 1971/72. The blaugranes have won 26 of those matches, drawing on three occasions.

Coverage

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