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Las Palmas
La Liga
Feb 20, 2016 at 3pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

1-2

Jose (10')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Suarez (6'), Neymar (39')

Live Commentary: Las Palmas 1-2 Barcelona - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Barcelona's 2-1 victory over Las Palmas in La Liga.
2

Barcelona have moved nine points clear in the La Liga table after grinding out a 2-1 win away at Las Palmas.

Luis Suarez netted as early as the sixth minute, but they were soon pegged back by a cool finish from Willian Jose.

However, the home side could not hold on until the break and Neymar's close-range finish proved to be the difference.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at Estadio Gran Canaria.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in La Liga between Las Palmas and Barcelona.

After witnessing Barca score nine goals in two matches over the course of the last seven days, Las Palmas have probably been dreading the arrival of the Catalan giants to the Estadio Gran Canaria. Unfortunately for the relegation-threatened side, they cannot choose their fixtures and they must do their best to contain their recently-rampant visitors this afternoon.

According to Barcelona's Twitter account, the players left their hotel around 20 minutes ago. That might be why we are still awaiting the team news for Luis Enrique's side, but we are sure that it won't be too far away.



Right on cue, Barcelona reveal their starting lineup. We would like to think that we had something to do with the promptness of their post on social media...

BARCELONA XI: Bravo, Alves, Arda, Iniesta, Suarez, Messi, Neymar, Mascherano, Alba, S.Roberto, Mathieu

With their trip to North London to face Arsenal just three days away, Luis Enrique must have faced the temptation of resting at least part of the 'MSN' trio in attack, but he has opted to select all three of his star men. You can almost imagine the despondent faces of the Las Palmas defenders while putting on their warm-up gear.

BARCELONA SUBSTITUTES: Ter Stegen, Rakitic, Bartra, Munir, Sandro, Aleix Vidal, Vermaelen

Las Palmas team news coming right up...

LAS PALMAS XI: Varas, David Garcia, William Jose, Momo, Roque Mesa, Artiles, Bigas, Jonathan Viera, Garrido, Tana, El Zhar

LAS PALMAS SUBSTITUTES: Lizoain, Lemoz, Lopez, Aleman, Araujo, Valeron, Nili,

Of course, we want you to stay with this match throughout the afternoon, but this isn't our only offering. Click here if you want to keep up-to-date with the fixtures taking place in the FA Cup, Championship and Europe.

Of the big three, Barca are the only team in action on Saturday. At this time tomorrow afternoon, Real Madrid will be preparing to face Malaga before Atletico Madrid host fourth-place Villarreal later in the evening. Sports Mole will be providing live text coverage of both matches so we hope to see you again tomorrow.

As you can see from the odds above, Las Palmas are a MASSIVE 14/1 to beat Barcelona on their home turf. Even though they are facing an attack that is effectively on another planet, that's still a huge price, but I suppose that shows how much respect the bookmakers are paying Barca for their results this season. They have dropped just six points in La Liga since October 3 - a run stretching 17 matches. Not bad, huh?

As for Las Palmas, you have to go all the back until December 12 for their last clean sheet - that isn't the kind of form you want to be taking into a meeting with Barcelona. They have lost three of their last four outings, but in all fairness, they have all come away from home. They beat Celta Vigo in their only match at home in the space of a month, but they were aided by the late sending off of opposition player Fabian Orellana.

The most realistic comparison that we can make to this match is Las Palmas' game with Atletico Madrid at Gran Canaria on January 17. Las Palmas went into that match possessing a three-match unbeaten streak but they were comfortably outclassed by Diego Simeone's side, who benefited from Filipe Luis's opener and a double from Antoine Griezmann.

REVERSE FIXTURE! We have been talking about Barcelona's undoubted superiority compared to Las Palmas, but it should be noted that the minnows are one of the few teams to test Barca at Camp Nou this season. The 2-1 scoreline doesn't tell the whole story, with Las Palmas' goal two minutes from time proving no more than a consolation, but it showed that they are capable of restricting arguably the best team in Europe if they perform to the best of their ability in defence.

PAST FIVE MEETINGS! If you were assuming that Barcelona had won each of the last five meetings, think again. The previous results probably don't have much relevance since the most recent clash before this season was in 2001-02, but during that campaign, Las Palmas drew 1-1 and 0-0 respectively with Barcelona. If was a different era in the club's history, but I think Las Palmas will be happy to take any plus points from previous matches. The two fixtures during 2000-01 ended in Barcelona victories.

PREDICTION! It won't come as any surprise to you that we are backing Messi, Suarez and Neymar to be the difference this afternoon. Given that Luis Enrique will most likely look to rest them during the closing stages, we think that they will get the job done in the first hour before making way. Barca to win 3-0.

The two teams have just made their way onto the pitch at Estadio Gran Canaria. We will be underway very shortly!

There is a slight delay in proceedings for a minutes silence, but Barca have now got the game started.

As expected, Barca quickly begin to dominate possession, but after working their way up the pitch, Neymar's attempted through-ball runs through to the goalkeeper.

SHOT! Las Palmas win a free kick from around 35 yards out. The better option looks to be to work the ball into the penalty area but Jonathan Viera decides to take the shot on. Unsurprisingly, it's the wrong decision as his shot goes harmlessly wide.

In all fairness, Las Palmas have started superbly. A neat move concludes with Willian Jose getting a shot away but it is deflected over the crossbar by Mascherano.

GOAL! Las Palmas 0-1 Barcelona (Suarez)

Just like that, Barcelona take the lead. An incisive pass splits open the Las Palmas defence and when Alba slides the ball across goal for Suarez, he has the simple task of sending the ball into the top corner from six yards.

GOAL! Las Palmas 1-1 Barcelona (Willian Jose)

Now then, that wasn't in the script! It takes just four minutes for Las Palmas to find the equaliser through Willian Jose, who latches onto a flick sent over the top of the Barcelona defence before applying a cool finish from 10 yards. Game on!

Las Palmas are unsurprisingly fired up after that equaliser, but Barcelona are coming back into the game now. Two players almost got in behind the defence but they were marginally offside.

SAVE! That's more like it from Barca. A well-worked move down the right ends with Iniesta getting a shot away from 18 yards but it is too close to Varas and he is able to punch the ball clear.

Mesa cynically blocks Neymar and decides to launch a verbal attack at the Brazilian. I'm assuming he was trying to rile him up because that was the easiest foul that the referee will have to give all afternoon. Nothing comes from the set piece, however.

For the first time in quarter of an hour, Las Palmas enjoyed a sustained spell of possession on the ball but they soon find themselves pushed back by their opponents and Varas slices the ball into touch.

Neymar has been on the end of some rough-house tactics already in this match and he is fouled once again by Bigas who conceded a free kick 35 yards out.

CHANCE! What an opportunity for Suarez! Messi delivers a delightful ball into the box and his strike partner only needs to head the ball on target to put his side into the lead. However, he tries to be too precise and he nods wide from six yards. Huge let-off for the hosts.

Barcelona are probing away at every opportunity now. They are trying to breach the offside trap with pin-point accuracy but as of yet, the approach isn't paying off.

BOOKING! Despite the majority of fouls being committed by Las Palmas, it's a Barcelona player who is first into the book after Arda Turan prevents a break-away going any further.

The resulting free kick is curled over to the back post and Bravo has to remain alert to tip a header from Artiles over the crossbar.

There are still seven minutes to go until the break but you have to say that Las Palmas deserve to go in on level terms. They are matching Barca blow for blow.

GOAL! Las Palmas 1-2 Barcelona (Neymar)

Spoke too soon! Suarez is released down the right-hand side - he looks marginally offside too - and he manoeuvres his way past the defender before crossing for Messi, who fires straight at Varas from eight yards. However, the ball falls kindly to Neymar, who makes no mistake with the rebound.

Credit to Las Palmas - you would have expected them to sit back and take a 2-1 deficit at half time, but they are continuing to plough forward. A free kick on the right leads to several more balls being delivered into the area, but Barca survive.

HALF TIME: Las Palmas 1-2 Barcelona

The half-time whistle goes in Spain and Barca take a 2-1 lead into the break. Artiles almost equalised with the last kick of the half, but with his 20-yard strike going wide, Las Palmas have it all to do in the second half.

The Barcelona players have congregated inside the tunnel ahead of the second half. As I mentioned earlier, Luis Enrique probably wants to get this match done with as soon as possible before the trip to Arsenal in the Champions League. I'm sure he would love to rest his star trio.

Las Palmas get us back underway.

Not much to report from the opening three minutes of the half. Rakitic is in the receiving end of a strong tackle but he is back on his feet.

SAVE! Suarez should have his hat-trick and this game should be done and dusted now. A searching ball finds Dani Alves, who heads back across goal for Suarez. He has the goal at his mercy but from eight yards out, he shoots straights at Varas. He can't believe he missed and neither can we.

That's one each as far as correct decision from the assistants are concerned. Neymar had been played through on goal before the official wrongly flagged for offside.

We haven't seen much of an attacking threat from Las Palmas since the restart. They look content to keep men behind the ball at the moment, maybe hoping to take Barca into the closing stages with just one goal separating the two teams.

Better from Las Palmas, who string together several passes down the left before the move breaks down. It gives Barca the chance to launch a counter attack but for once, Neymar and Suarez get their wires crossed.

CHANCE! Las Palmas should be level! Claudio Bravo does well to parry a shot from mesa but the ball falls to Willian Jose around three yards out. He only has to lift the ball over Bravo and it's 2-2, but instead, he tries to sneak the ball into the near post and it went wide. Big moment.

It's marginal, but Las Palmas have had more possession in this match. Who would have predicted that?

SUBSTITUTION! Jonathan Viera has left the field to be replaced by on-loan Lemos.

SUBSTITUTION! It's a change for Barcelona this time, with Vermaelen replacing Sergi Roberto. Those two alterations are all that has happened during the past five or six minutes.

CHANCE! A long ball finds the run of Suarez and the Uruguayan only has to lift the ball over Varas to net his second. However, he fails to make contact and the ball ricochets off the goalkeeper's legs.

Luis Enrique could probably get away with replacing Messi. We haven't seen much of the Argentine this afternoon. It's not often you can say that. The margin remains the same but Barca look in full control.

A crowd of 26,952 has witnessed this match. Most of them can't have been expecting this game to still be competitive at this stage. Willian Jose just had an opening for the home side but it was curled just wide from 20 yards.

Not much in the way of goalmouth action as we enter the final 10 minutes but Barcelona are dominating possession into the Las Palmas half. The hosts need to get on the ball and perhaps change to a more direct approach. They have barely threatened aside from Willian Jose missing a sitter.

CHANCE! Was that the chance?! Finally, Las Palmas throw men forward and the ball finds its way to the feet of Sergio Araujo, but after shifting the ball onto his left foot, he can only drag his effort from 20 yards wide of the target. He should have done better.

Las Palmas are throwing everything into this, but you get the sense that Barca remain comfortable. They are eating up valuable time by staying in possession.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

FULL TIME: Las Palmas 1-2 Barcelona

The full-time whistle goes in Spain and Barcelona have held on to see out a 2-1 victory over Las Palmas. They were made to work for their victory but first-half goals from Luis Suarez and Neymar have moved the club nine points clear at the top of the standings.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match, but we hope that you can join us tomorrow for the other fixtures involving the big three in Spain. Goodbye for now.

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Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi celebrate during the Copa del Rey game between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao on January 27, 2016
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
3Real Madrid1283125111427
4Villarreal127322319424
5GironaGirona146352018221
6Mallorca146351312121
7Osasuna136341720-321
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9Real BetisBetis145541616020
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11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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