FC Barcelona continued their dominance at the top of LaLiga with a hard-fought 2-0 victory against UD Las Palmas at the Estadio de Gran Canaria on Saturday. This success not only kept them leader of the table but also ensured they maintained their competitive edge over Atletico Madrid, who had earlier secured a 3-0 win against Valencia.
The match showcased the resilience and tactical acumen of Barcelona, particularly from coach Hansi Flick. After struggling to assert their dominance during the first half, which ended without goals, Flick made pivotal changes at halftime, introducing substitutes Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres.
The first half was marked by frustration for Barcelona, who faced strong resistance from Las Palmas. The team, donning their black kit, struggled to carve out clear opportunities against their opponents, who displayed impressive defensive organization. Despite holding possession, Barcelona found themselves repeatedly thwarted, with Lewandowski missing key chances, including a close-range header and subsequent shot.
Las Palmas took advantage of Barcelona's disjointed play, creating several dangerous moments on the counter. Their quick transitions put the visiting defense under pressure, with notable attempts from Sandro Ramírez and Bajcetic forcing goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to make important saves.
It wasn't until the 62nd minute when the breakthrough finally came. Olmo, energized by his introduction, produced the first moment of real quality, initiating a swift attack. After receiving the ball from Lamine Yamal, he maneuvered past defender Álex Suárez and dispatched a curling shot off the underside of the crossbar, putting Barcelona up 1-0.
After this goal, Barcelona's rhythm improved as they settled down, with Olmo and Yamal displaying their chemistry and drive. Las Palmas, needing to react, made several substitutions to regain their footing, but the momentum had shifted decisively toward the Catalans.
Late drama ensued as Las Palmas appealed for a penalty due to handball against Eric García. The referee consulted VAR, which upheld the decision against awarding the penalty due to prior offside, much to Las Palmas' frustration.
Barcelona soon sealed their victory with another goal deep in stoppage time. Ferran Torres, who had also come on as a substitute, capitalized on another defensive error from Las Palmas, receiving Raphinha's pass before unleashing a powerful strike beyond Jasper Cillessen, ensuring the final score of 2-0.
With this win, Barcelona solidified their position at the top of LaLiga with 54 points, putting pressure on Real Madrid, who face Girona the following day. Meanwhile, Las Palmas sits precariously above the relegation zone with just 23 points, needing to regroup for the challenges ahead.
The match illustrated Barcelona's struggles against teams fighting to survive at the top level, but their ability to adapt and capitalize on key moments was once again evident. Dan Olmo's impactful return and Ferran Torres' growing role as a game-changer were particularly notable as Barcelona looks to maintain their form heading toward the latter half of the season.