Barcelona 1-0 Las Palmas: summary: score, goals, highlights | LaLiga EA Sports

So, over to you Real Madrid as Barcelona cut the difference at the top of the league to just five points with Los Blancos set to face Athletic Club at the Bernabeu on Sunday night.

Barcelona were made to work hard for maximum points against a resilient and well drilled Las Palmas side with the dynamic of the game changing in the 24th minute when goalkeeper Alvaro Valles saw a straight red for his reckless lunge on Raphinha.

Barcelona however seemed to struggle that bit more against the ten men and it wasn't until Joao Felix was brought on early in the second half that his added zip and pedigree was the key to break down the Canary Islanders.

The deadlock was finally broken on the hour mark when the Portuguese delivered a precision point pass for Raphinha to nod home.

Despite a nervy end to the game as Moliero almost found the net, Barcelona were able to tire out the side in yellow through dominant possession control.

Xavi claimed that nine points from the next three games were essential in pushing Real Madrid all the way with the first hurdle now out of the way for the Catalan side.

FT: FCB 1-0 Las Palmas

Raohinha keeps the title race alive.

The three points was the key for Xavi's men tonight as they huffed and puffed at times against a soild Las Palmas side who were faced to play with ten minutes after keeper Valles was red carded in the first 45 minutes.

The whistle sounds and Barcelona get the win.

Las Palmas enjoy a brief spell of possession and it's a credit to Garcia Pimienta as they forge looking for a shock leveller.

As things stand, Barcelona end the day just five points behind Real Madrid. 

Barça just playing 'keep ball' at the moment as they retain possession.

We'll have five minutes of added time.

Almost an equaliser as Moliero drives the ball into the side netting.

Ter Stegen is furious and that could have been a disaster for the home side.

Las Palmas break forward and a hint of anxiety takes over with the game only being decided by the solitary Raphinha goal.

Barcelona still pressurising the Las Palmas but without letting having the visitors have any possession.

Lewandowski is carded for time wasting as he leaves the field and no doubt that was a calculated move as he will miss the Cadiz game but be available for El Clasico on the 21st of April. 

Changes for Barcelona

Romeu and Roque on

Sergi Roberto and Lewandowski exit

Las Palmas subs

Sandro off with Marc his replacement

Cardona limps from the field as Del Toro takes his place.

Sublime play from Barça as the ball falls to Joao Felix who from six yards out drills the ball off the crossbar.

Cardona pulls up and seems to have developed a hamstring issue.

Barcelona need a second.

Fifteen minutes remain as Barça press for a second goal.

Las Palmas look tired now and a pale shadow of the team who matched Barça for roughly 50 minutes of this LaLiga contest.

Joao Felix with another pinpoint pass as he finds Ferran who is inches offside.

What a change the Portuguese No.14 has made tonight. 

Las Palmas double switch

Muñoz and Loiodice off

Moliero and Campaña on

Not a great night from the teenager this evening. All the same he gets a standing ovation from the home fans.

Ferran Torres comes on for Lamine Yamal.

Often criticised, but Joao Felix has been a real livewire for Barça this evening since coming on adding the energy and punch that the home side's game so desperately needed.

Another card, this time for Iñigo Martinez as he clips Sandro.

Sergi Roberto carded for a shirt tug on Suarez.

Still 30 minutes left in the contest and Las Palmas will need to tweak their approach.

Hands off to Xavi for reading the game and bringing on Joao Felix.

Barcelona are simply overplaying when they need to be that little more direct and are guilty of over passing this evening.

Marvin breaks through for Las Palmas but the flag was up.

Fermin Lopez makes way for the Portuguese striker.

Yamal breaks free and wins a corner for Barça.

Substitution time.

After dazzling for Spain on Tuesday, Lamine Yamal has been disappointing tonight.

Joao Felix strips off his tracksuit and is poised to make an entrance.

Gundogan carded as leaves the boot in as Coco does well in taking the ball off the German.

Good work from the visitors as Marvin gets free and the Las Palmas man is immediately surrounded and fails to get a solid shot away.

Joao Felix starts to warm up for the home side.

46,788 fans in attendance tonight. Roughly ten thousand short of capacity.

A win tonight would take Barcelona to five points of Real Madrid who play on Sunday night at home to Athletic Club.

All set and off we go, the home side restart the game.

Las Palmas take to the field as does the Polish striker.

Having said that Lewandowski is set to return to the pitch.

No changes for the home side at the interval.

Plenty for Xavi (who incidentally is watching from the stand as he serves his suspension) to think about with the coach needing to inject more zip into the Barcelona attack.

Las Palmas have dealt reasonably well with the attack despite being down to ten men and a win is imperative for the home side.

All square in Barcelona at half-time

The whistle sounds and it's ten man Las Palmas who are holding out with Barça needing more creativity in attack.

Cancelo shoots from a long way out as whistles sound on the cusp of the break.

Just the one shot on target from Barcelona in the first 45.

Raphinha misses with the goal at his mercy as Barça finally outfox Las Palmas as Cancelo picks out the Brazilian.

We'll have five minutes of added time.

It's been very pedestrian from Barça.

A game they need to win and they are struggling to break down the yellow wall of well drilled Las Palmas.

Barça are too dubative on the ball and at the moment Las Palmas are level to the attacking threat caused by the home side.

Far too predictable from Barça.

Bright spell from Las Palmas as Loiodice gets a shot off as Barcelona are sliced open.

Less than ten minutes left as Barcelona are knocking on the door now.

The bar denies Barça as Lewandowski heads off the bar.

Yamal on the ball and at the moment Cardona is having the better in that battle between the Las Palmas defender and Barcelona teenager.

Las Palmas in no hurry to take dead balls... free kicks and throws as they look to take any impetus away from Barcelona.

Las Palmas have moved to a 4-4-1 formation with Sandro the sole striker.

It's going to be a long night for the men in yellow and their handful of fans who have shown up to see the Canary Islanders in action.

Barça set to take the free as the game resumes.

Raphinha strikes and earns a corner via a deflection.

Escandell set to make an entrance as Las Palmas are forced to make the change. 

Munir is the player who makes way.

Great ball from Sergi Roberto as he sends the Brazilian free and the Las Palmas keeper loses any composure leaving the ref with no choice.

The Canary Islanders now down to ten men.

Valles is off as he rushes from his box and scythes into Barcelona's Raphinha.

The disallowed goal has fired up the home fans with an improved atmosphere now in the stands.

No goal.

No, the goal has been ruled out for offside ...

The Brazilian was offside according to the linesman and VAR is being consulted.

Possession stats after 20 minutes

FCB 46-54 Las Palmas (%)

Decent strike from Lewandowski as Valles pushes the ball back into play and Barça win their first corner of the game.

Sandro breaks for Las Palmas and the veteran striker gets a shot off and straight away the flag is up.

Cardona carded as he clips Lamine Yamal.

Despite no rain forecast during the game, the heavens have opened with heavy rain now lashing the pitch and bulk of the uncovered stands at the Olympic Stadium.

The Catalan capital has been hit by serious drought recently so no complaints !

We've yet to see Yamal on the ball and there's more than ten minutes gone.

The teenager getting zero service on the right flank.

We pass the ten minute mark and neither keeper yet to be tested.

It's been a sluggish start from the home side and the atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium is not exactly what one would call 'rocking'!

Best chance of the evening falls to Munir and the Moroccan international skips into position but his final effort is poor and fails to trouble Ter Stegen.

Barça have the ball in the net and again the flag is up as the Polish striker ventured into an offsiode position.

Decent start by the visitors but just as we say that, Lewandowski is gifted the ball and dinks over the bar but the flag was up.

Early corner for Las Palmas as Kounde takes no chances and sweeps the ball out of play under pressure.

Las Palmas start the game with the Canary Islanders having only recorded two wins away to Barça.

A decent crowd in attendance in Montjuic tonight but far from a full house ... the Olympic Stadium has not proved to be a hit with the Culès as renovation work continues on Camp Nou.

The game will be proceeded by a minutte's silence for Francisco Lopez (former FCB player) who recently passed away.

The sides emerge from the tunnel at the Olympic Stadium ...

Barcelona in their classic azul-grana jerseys, navy shorts and Las Palmas all in yellow.

Xavi's team are on a eight game unbeaten run with six wins and two draws in their past eight outings.

A reminder of the team news with less than five minutes before kick-off in the Catalan capital.

More Yamal magic?

Lamine Yamal was the standout player for the Spanish national side last Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu as La Roja faced Brazil as part of an anti racism showcase match.

The game ended 3-3 but it was the Barcelona teenager who produced a dazzling performance getting a well deserved standing ovation as he was subbed towards the end of the game.

Teams continuing warm-up

Both sets of players and subs are on the pitch with the starting XI's from both sides going through intensive warm-up drills.

Less than 20 minutes to go to kick-off.

Barcelona impressive lately

Since announcing that he would stand down at the end of the current season, FC Barcelona's results have picked up culminating with progression to the quarter-final of the Champions League (where they face PSG) and beating Atletico Madrid 0-3 in the last LaLiga outing.

One card away from suspension

A series of players will need to watch their step tonight as another booking would lead to suspension.

Mateo Busquets Ferrer appointed as ref

This is the first season officiating for the Palma (Mallorca) native who oversaw Las Palmas in his top flight debut last September.

The 30-old also took charge of Barcelona's 2-1 win over Alaves this season, his first game in charge of the Azulgrana outfit.

Barcelona-Las Palmas weather

Currently overcast skies in the Catalan capital as light fades.

It's expected to be dry during the game with showers expected at the final whistle and it's currently 15C-59F degrees with less than an hour to kick-off.

Las Palmas XI confirmed

The Canary Islanders have confirmed their team for tonight's Montjuic clash.

Las Palmas will be anxious to avoid a repetition of their past two visits to face Barcelona in the Catalan capital with a 3-0 and 5-0 the score lines they last faced FCB at Camp Nou.

FC Barcelona XI named

Robert Lewandowski starts for the Catalan side despite many thinking Vitor Roque could get the nod ahead of the Polish striker.

We're afforded another chance to see Lamine Yamal in action again with the teenager in dazzling form last Tuesday for Spain in their 3-3 draw against Brazil.

Cubarsí arrives

Pau Caubarsí is expected to start for Barcelona tonight after his impressive performances for the Spanish national side becoming the youngest defender to ever play for Spain at the age of 17 years one month and 28 days, breaking the record previously held by Sergio Ramos in 2005.

The Barça player featured as a sub in both recent games for La Roja (Colombia and Brazil).

Las Palmas come into tonight's game with no injury concerns with Barcelona still missing the young midfield duo of Gavi and Pedri.

Balde, De Jong and Christensen are the other FC Barcelona absentees through injury.

FCB-UDLP stats

Lewandowski and Kirian are the respective top scorers for both sides ahead of tonight's clash with doubts about the Polish striker starting.

BARCELONA

Possible FC Barcelona line-up for LaLiga clash against Las Palmas

Barça-Las Palmas matchday poster

Jules Kounde, Ferran Torres and Joao Cancelo adorn the official FCB matchday poster for the clash against Las Palmas which points to the trio starting the game for the Azulgrana.

It remains to be seen if Xavi will use striker Robert Lewandowski from the start with the Poland international fresh from two demanding Euro 2024 qualifying games with the 'White Eagles' bagging one of the final three places at the summer's tournament.  

A win is imperative for Barça if they are to maintain their outside chance of catching table topping Real Madrid. 

Xavi's side face Cadiz (away) before travelling to the Bernabeu on 21 April with a trio if wins certainly going some way into generating a title race. Any slip-ups on the way and the Catalan giants can wave goodbye to a title defence.

Barcelona sit in second place in the LaLiga table with 64 points from 29 matches: 19 wins, seven draws, and three losses.

Las Palmas are in no-mans land and sit in 11th position with 37 points from 29 matches: 10 wins, seven draws, and 12 losses.

The sides met in Las Palmas earlier in the season with the Catalans securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory at the Estadio de Gran Canaria in January.

Kick-off time

The LaLiga matchday-30 game between Barcelona and Las Palmas will be played at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday 30 March 2024. Kick-off is at 4:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. PT.

Hello and welcome to our live LaLiga EA Sports coverage as FC Barcelona face Las Palmas in the Catalan capital.