U.D. Las Palmas – Barcelona, La Liga – 22nd February 2025. They also go back clear at the top of the league after this hard-fought win, one that highlighted their determination against a plucky Las Palmas team.
Match Overview
The match started with Las Palmas adopting a disciplined defensive approach, successfully containing Barcelona’s attacking prowess for much of the first half. Barcelona enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but found it difficult to break down an organized Las Palmas side. At the half, a scoreless draw prevailed, with neither team finding their way over the goals.
Second Half: U.D. Las Palmas – Barcelona
The stalemate was broken in the 60th minute when young Barcelona talent Lamine Yamal made a perfect assist to substitute Dani Olmo. With clinical finishing, Olmo hit a low shot that beat Las Palma’s keeper and made the score 1-0 in favor of Barcelona. The goal would be a pivotal moment in the game, turning momentum towards the visitors.
Not long after, Las Palmas were offered a way back into the game when they were awarded a penalty for an alleged Eric García handball in the area. However, after a lengthy VAR review, the penalty was ruled out for an offside in the lead-up, much to the relief of the host defense.
Barça went two-up in the 75th minute. Pedri, on the home island of the kid who made only his seventh appearance for the club in question, then set Ferran Torres free for a well-taken second into the bottom left corner that secured a 2-0 win for the Catalan club.
Key Player Performances
Dani Olmo: A substitute, Olmo opened the scoring almost from the moment he set foot on the field. His poaching instincts were present to great effect when he broke the deadlock.
Carles Alena: Another top performance from the Canarian midfielder in front of his home fans. Alongside his assist, Pedri’s vision and control throughout the middle were essential to ensuring the match’s tempo.
Lamine Yamal: The teenage winger was electric throughout. His assist for the first goal showed just how important he can be and how well he complements the rest of the attacking players for Barcelona.
Managerial Insights
After the match, Hansi Flick, the head coach of Barcelona, praised the performance of his team. Reinforced by Las Palmas’ solid defensive approach, he stressed the need for patience and pragmatism. Flick said he was equally happy with the efforts of his substitutes, namechecking Olmo, who added a different angle to Barcelona’s attack when he came on.
Las Palmas’ coach, however, preferred to focus on the positives from his team’s performance, pointing out their defensive strength in the first half But he said that facing a team like Barcelona — which he described as among the top teams in the world — would be a good test for his squad and that he was looking forward to the challenge in the next games.
Historical Context: U.D. Las Palmas – Barcelona
It continues a superior record between the two sides, with Barcelona previously holding a great record against Las Palmas. In their last 14 clashes, Barcelona has won 10 of them while Las Palmas has managed only one win along with three draws. If the goal difference further proves the superiority of the Catalans, in the other four Barcelona has scored 27 and Las Palmas 9.
Implications for the Season
It is the opposite story for Las Palmas, as it tries to climb out of the lower half of the table. It was a loss, but certainly, a baseline to build off of in their fight to stay in the league with an organized defense and flashes of offensive threat against a top-level team in Barcelona.
All in all, as Barcelona has deservedly also the victory (2-0) to Las Palmas, it emphasizes the capacity of the attack of the Catalan club and the tenacity of both teams, as they will navigate the course of the season.
