A return to winning ways in La Liga is on the menu for Barcelona this weekend when they face Las Palmas in Catalonia.
After falling to Real Sociedad before the November stoppage, Barça conceded a comfortable 2-0 lead to Celta de Vigo last weekend after Marc Casado was sent off in the second half. Their excellent start to the season means Hansi Flick’s side remain four points clear of a flawed Real Madrid side at the top of La Liga, but Los Blancos have a game in hand.
A 3-0 win against Brest in midweek ensures the hosts go into Saturday’s clash with some confidence and will be expected to take on the side who currently sit 17th in La Liga. Barça have won all five league games at home this season, while Las Palmas have been defeated in five of their seven away trips.
The Peter The derby has been incredibly one-sided. In fact, Las Palmas have never beaten their closest rivals in the 21st century.
Here’s everything you need to know about Saturdays The League shock
Barcelona vs Las Palmas H2H Record (last five matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Barcelona |
Las Palmas |
|---|---|
|
Barcelona 3-0 Brest – 26/11/24 |
Las Palmas 2-3 Mallorca – 23/11/24 |
|
Celta Vigo 2-2 Barcelona – 23/11/24 |
Rayo Vallecano 1-3 Las Palmas – 08/11/24 |
|
Real Sociedad 1-0 Barcelona – 10/11/24 |
Atlético Madrid 2-0 Las Palmas – 03/11/24 |
|
Red Star Belgrade 2-5 Barcelona – 24/11/06 |
Ontinena 0-7 Las Palmas – 31/10/24 |
|
Barcelona 3-1 Espanyol – 03/11/24 |
Las Palmas 1-0 Girona – 26/10/14 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
united kingdom |
Premier Sports Player, LaLigaTV, Premier Sports 1 |
|
united states |
ESPN+, fuboTV, ESPN App, ESPN Deportes |
|
canada |
TSN+ |
The list of absentees from Barça is still extensive, but they will receive it Lamine Yamal returns this weekend after a rather short period on the sidelines. The teenage superstar will slot straight into Flick’s XI on the right flank.
Frenkie de Jong has been criticized of late, but he will start in place of the suspended Casado. Eric Garcia is likely to replace Íñigo Martínez if the centre-back misses out with a muscle injury.
Ansu Fati, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are all out, while Ronald Araujo and Ferran Torres are both on the comeback trail.
Barcelona vs Las Palmas predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Punishment; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martínez, Balde; De Jong, Peter; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
Diego Martínez had no fitness issues last time out against Mallorca and that is unlikely to have changed heading into this game.
Former Premier League defender Scott McKenna will start at the back, while Wolves loanee Fabio Silva should also get the nod. Oli McBurnie has normally occupied the bench in his new home.
The expected line-up of Las Palmas vs Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Cillessen; Rozada, Suarez, McKenna, Muñoz; Esugo, Campana; Sandro, Rodríguez, Carpenter; Silva.
A Barcelona the wobble has allowed Real Madrid Back in the hunt and Flick’s side will be eager to prove their failure either side of the November break is not a sign of things to come.
Getting back to winning ways was important in midweek, although teams continue to have some joy to get behind. Les Palmas aren’t exactly gifted with outlets in abundance, but the visitors may have a couple of high-quality chances given the lack of personnel in Barca’s backline.
Even so, the hosts are ready to claim three points at home. There’s no way this leaky Las Palmas defense can contain a Barcelona attack fueled by the return of Yamal and the form of Robert Lewandowski.
