FC Barcelona 1-0 Las Palmas: Win to continue good run

The 46,788 people who braved the welcome rain in Catalonia to watch FC Barcelona take on Las Palmas were rewarded with an important 1-0 win that takes the blaugranes to within five points of leaders Real Madrid who play Athletic Club tomorrow.

The Canary Islanders’ task of reversing their recent run of form was made more difficult by the first half sending-off of keeper Álvaro Vallés. Ferran returned as a second-half substitute after almost two months out, but the win was sealed by a Raphinha header after a delightful ball over the top from second-half substitute João Félix.

Lewandowski leads the line without reward

A bright start to the game saw a Barça goal ruled out for offside, before former blaugrana Munir El Haddadi went close at the other end for Las Palmas, as the rain began to fall heavily at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

Lewandowski continued his good form and was leading the line admirably, with a great cross field pass by Cubarsí on 15 minutes leading to the Polish striker stinging the palms of Álvaro Vallés in the Las Palmas goal. More good work by the Barça number 9 in the build-up saw a goal by Raphinha again chalked off due to offside four minutes later.

A turning point in the game came when the Las Palmas keeper was deservedly sent off for scything down Raphinha after racing out of his goal to stop one of the many balls hit over the top of the visitors’ high defensive line.

Lewandowski then hit the bar from a superb cross from Cancelo after 35 minutes, before a Fermin shot flashed just wide of the right post seven minutes later after a spell of Las Palmas pressure.

The best move of the half from Barça saw Ilkay Gündogan play a slide rule pass through to Cancelo, whose cut back was side footed wide of the right post by Raphinha on 45 minutes. Las Palma’s best effort came shortly afterwards, Coco’s powerful free kick flying just past the top right corner of Ter Stegen’s goal.

Félix creates and Raphinha scores

Las Palmas were providing stern resistance despite playing with only 10 men, and the blaugranes needed something different, Fermin hitting a first time volley wide being the only real chance in the first ten minutes after the break.

The breakthrough came on 59 minutes, as substitute João Félix lifted a wonderful ball over the top of the defence for the onrushing Raphinha to head over substitute keeper Aarón from inside the penalty area for 1-0.

Ferran replaced Lamine Yamal on 70 minutes to a warm round of applause as he returned after almost two months out due to injury and he immediately tested the Las Palmas keeper despite being flagged for offside. João Félix was again involved seven minutes later, as he crashed a Kounde cross against the crossbar from close range that almost rebounded in off Aarón.

However, despite a late scare when substitute Moleiro went very close after a run at the blaugrana defence, much to Ter Stegen’s chagrin, the final whistle went and blaugranes added another three valuable LaLiga points to keep up the pressure at the top of the table and maintain their unbeaten run in the domestic competition that now stretches back to January.