LAS PALMAS, SPAIN – JANUARY 04: Ilkay Gundogan of FC Barcelona celebrates with teammates after scoring their teams second goal from a penalty during the LaLiga EA Sports match between UD Las Palmas and FC Barcelona at Estadio Gran Canaria on January 04, 2024 in Las Palmas, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Barcelona struck late in the second half to secure a come-from-behind to 2-1 victory over Las Palmas on Thursday night.
LaLiga
Report: Las Palmas 1-2 Barcelona
Date: 04 January 2024
Venue: Gran Canaria Stadium
Xavi Hernandez made three changes from the win over Almeria before the break, as Julse Kounde, Frenki De Jong and Ferran Torres were recalled in place of Andreas Christensen, Fermin and Joao Felix.
It was the home side who drew first blood after 12 minutes when Sandro did well to keep the attack alive and swung the ball into the box for Munir to fire home against his former side.
The Catalan giants nearly pulled themselves level seven minutes later when De Jong was able to slide Robert Lewandowski through on goal, but goalkeeper Alvaro Valles rushed off his line to thwart the striker.
Barcelona were quite vulnerable at the back and were lucky not to have conceded a second goal on 30 minutes when Inaki Pena parried a shot into the path of Sandro, sent his effort inches wide of the upright.
Xavi’s charges did end the first of on a stronger note, pushing for the equaliser, but the Las Palmas defence were resolute as the home side went into the break with their lead intact.
That all changed in the second half, with Barcelona restoring parity ten minutes after the break when Torres pounced on a loose ball in the box to fire past Valles for his fourth league goal of the campaign.
The visitors also went on to refresh their stall on 70 minutes, With Yamine Lamal and Joao Felix coming on for Raphinha and the club’s top scorer Lewandowski, who had struggled on the night, while new signing Vitor Roque also came on for his debut eight minutes later.
With the game seemingly headed for a draw, Barcelona were awarded a penalty in the 91st minute as Daley Sinkgraven was shown a straight red card for denying – a goal-scoring chance.
Ilkay Gundogan stepped up and calmly slotted home from 12 yards to seal the win for Barcelona, who move seven points behind league leaders Real Madrid.
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