FC Barcelona secured a significant victory against Unión Deportiva Las Palmas on February 23, 2025, with a final score of 2-0, even though they did not showcase their best football. The win allowed Barcelona to reclaim the top position they had temporarily lost following Atlético de Madrid's earlier victory. The match, held at Estadio de Gran Canaria, was marred by several controversial fouls, particularly involving young winger Lamine Yamal, who faced aggressive marking throughout the encounter.
During the 59th minute, Yamal was at the center of attention when he was tackled by Las Palmas players Darío Essugo and Álex Muñoz. Despite being fouled and suffering visible injuries, referee Adrián Cordero Vega did not call the foul, leading to outrage from Barcelona players and fans alike. After the match, Yamal shared on his Instagram stories how his left foot looked post-game: the tips of his socks were drenched in blood, highlighting the severity of the foul he endured.
Accompanying the photo, Yamal humorously posted, "¡No es falta!" (It's not a foul!), complete with emojis reflecting his disbelief and jest at the officiation he experienced. This moment not only underscored his injury but also the frustrations shared by his teammates over what they perceived as leniency from Cordero Vega concerning aggressive play by the opposition.
Aside from the injury controversy, Yamal also made immense contributions on the pitch, helping set up the first goal scored by Dani Olmo shortly after the incident. Yamal had been displaying his usual electric pace before the heavy challenges began to take their toll. Even after sustaining the foot injury, he was able to recover, dodging defenders and delivering the assist for Olmo, who broke the deadlock, demonstrating his resilience and skill under pressure.
Throughout the match, the aggressive tactics of Las Palmas were evident, as they committed 13 fouls, yet only one yellow card was issued by Cordero Vega. The referee's decisions displayed inconsistency, particularly as Yamal was awarded free kicks on only three occasions during the match, highlighting the challenges he faced from defenders who were evidently aware of his skills and importance to Barcelona's attacking threat.
The fracas surrounding the officiation extended beyond just Yamal's encounter; moments earlier, Frenkie de Jong had received harsh treatment as well, reflecting poor officiation throughout the game. The general consensus among the Barcelona squad was frustration over how their star player was treated during the match, which saw only one yellow card issued against the Canarian side for their unruly conduct.
Fortunately for FC Barcelona, Yamal's injury was not severe enough to sideline him long-term. Nonetheless, anticipation is high as they prepare for their next challenge: facing Atlético de Madrid on Tuesday for the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Yamal's performance, particularly his interactions with the referee, will be under scrutiny as the team looks to navigate through this decisive portion of the season, battling for honors both domestically and beyond.
FC Barcelona's victory against Las Palmas was pivotal, not only to reclaim their position at the top of LaLiga but also to build momentum heading toward key matches, especially with the Champions League eliminations approaching. Yet, the controversy over the officiation and Yamal's injury will certainly remain as points of discussion as the season progresses.