Two different runs meet head-on

Back to LaLiga action at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys now that the March international break is over, with Barça hosting Las Palmas on 30 March, kick-off 9pm CET. Two different runs meet head-on as the blaugranes are unbeaten in eight LaLiga games, while the Canary Islanders haven't won in five league games. However, analysing past games between the sides shows a somewhat longer run of results.

Xavi's side went into the international break with clear signs of progress being made in LaLiga. Since the final game in January, Barça have been on an eight game unbeaten run - six wins and two draws. The 1-0 win against Osasuna started the run, with another three points added from the wins against Getafe (4-0) and Mallorca (1-0) at Montjuïc. Then came three away matches that further extended the run - Alavés (1-3), Celta Vigo (1-2) and Atlético Madrid (0-3). The three points only escaped the blaugranes against Granada at home (3-3) and Athletic Club in San Mamés (0-0).

On the other hand, the Las Palmas side coached by former blaugrana Garcia Pimienta have gone five matchdays without a league win. The Canary Islanders were one of the revelations of the season in LaLiga, but they have hit somewhat of a sticky patch. Promoted this year, they are in a well-deserved 11th place despite a run of two draws and three defeats, with their last win coming on 10 February. Their last five results include a 5-0 against Atlético Madrid, a 1-1 against Osasuna, a 3-3 against Getafe, a 0-2 against Athletic and a 0-1 against Almería.

Blaugranes on top in the head-to-heads

FC Barcelona's most recent win against Las Palmas came during the first set of LaLiga games, when they won 1-2 at the Gran Canaria Stadium courtesy of a Gündoğa penalty just before the final whistle. That made it 15 games in a row without defeat for the Catalans against the Canary Islanders, extending the longest sequence of undefeated games for Barça against Las Palmas. 

Furthermore, if only games in Catalonia are included, the Canary Islanders haven't won since September 1972, a sensational unbeaten run that includes 17 wins and two draws. Clearly FC Barcelona and Las Palmas are currently on opposite trajectories, but it ultimately all comes down to what happens on the pitch once the ball starts rolling.