Barcelona Overcomes Las Palmas with Second-Half Magic
FC Barcelona bagged a crucial 2-0 win over UD Las Palmas on Saturday, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Hansi Flick’s squad. A frustrating first half saw the Catalan giants struggle against a disciplined Las Palmas defense, but second-half substitutions proved to be the game-changer, with Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres finding the net to secure three vital points.
A Slow Start in the Canary Islands
Barcelona stepped onto the pitch in Gran Canaria knowing they had no room for error after Atlético Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Valencia. However, the Blaugrana started off shaky, unable to find their rhythm against a fearless Las Palmas side that was dangerous on the counter.
The hosts had their moments, with Sandro Ramírez forcing Szczesny into a save and Moleiro coming close with a shot that lacked the right curl. McBurnie’s presence in set-pieces also caused problems for Barça’s backline. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s attack lacked fluidity, often overcomplicating plays instead of pulling the trigger. Their best chance of the first half came from Lamine Yamal, who sent a low shot just wide of the post.
Flick’s Tactical Masterstroke
Unhappy with his team’s performance, Flick made a bold move at halftime, introducing Dani Olmo—and it paid off instantly. The Spanish forward wasted no time making an impact, combining brilliantly with Lamine Yamal before producing a dazzling piece of skill in the box, cutting inside Álex Suárez and smashing a left-footed shot off the underside of the bar and into the net.
With the deadlock broken, Barcelona finally looked like themselves, while Las Palmas scrambled to adjust. Their coach, Diego Martínez, made three quick substitutions to inject fresh energy, but the game had already tilted in Barça’s favor.
Lewandowski had a golden opportunity to extend the lead but continued his unlucky streak against Las Palmas, failing to find the net yet again. Then came the controversy of the night—a potential penalty for Las Palmas was ruled out by VAR due to an offside in the buildup, leaving the home crowd fuming.
Ferran Seals the Deal
As the clock wound down, Barcelona smartly kept possession to control the tempo. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Ferran Torres put the game to bed with a thunderous left-footed volley, capping off a hard-fought victory.
Key Takeaways:
- Barcelona struggled in the first half but turned things around with second-half substitutions.
- Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres made the difference with their goals.
- VAR controversy added drama, but Barcelona held on to secure the win.
- Lewandowski remains goalless against Las Palmas.
Starting XI for Barcelona:
Szczesny; Koundé, Eric García, Cubarsí, Balde; Casadó, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
Hansi Flick made four changes, with Koundé returning to the right-back position after his disciplinary absence, Eric García stepping into central defense, Casadó reinforcing the midfield, and Fermín replacing Gavi as the attacking midfielder.
With this win, Barça keeps the pressure on Real Madrid ahead of their crucial clash against Girona. Could this be the spark they needed for a late-season push? Time will tell!
