La Liga | Gameweek 15

Nov 30, 2024 at 1pm UK

Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys

Barcelonavs.Las Palmas

Match preview

Barcelona have had a bit of a rough patch in La Liga recently. They lost 1-0 to Real Sociedad on 10 November and then dropped two points in the latter stages of their match with Celta Vigo last weekend.

Flick's side were two goals ahead and cruising in Vigo, but Marc Casado was sent off in the 82nd minute before Celta netted twice in the final exchanges to secure a point in a 2-2 draw. That means Barcelona's lead at the summit is no longer comfortable.

The Catalan side are still top of the division, four points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, but the reigning champions have a game in hand, which shows how important it is to get back to winning ways this weekend.

Barcelona will be looking to build on their positive result from Tuesday night's Champions League match against Brest, where they beat the French side 3-0. This result leaves them third in the overall table, three points behind leaders Liverpool.

The home team has won all five of its league games in front of its own fans this season. It will be welcoming a Las Palmas outfit that has been beaten in five of its seven La Liga games on its travels.

Barcelona have another six matches before the winter break in Spain, including a big Champions League clash away to Borussia Dortmund and a home La Liga match against Atlético Madrid.

Las Palmas haven't beaten Barcelona in any competition since February 1991. They haven't managed to overcome the Catalan side in La Liga since February 1986, when they won 3-0 at home.

Los Amarillos haven't beaten Barcelona away from home in La Liga since September 1971, which shows just how tough this match is going to be for them. But Pio Pio have been victorious in four of their last six matches in all competitions, so they're not to be underestimated.

Diego Martínez has had a positive impact since being appointed head coach at the start of October, winning four of his six games. That form has moved the team out of the relegation zone, but a tough season so far has left them in 17th place, just two points above 18th-placed Valencia, who have two games in hand.

Las Palmas will be looking to bounce back from their 3-2 defeat to Mallorca, where Johan Mojica scored the winner in the 91st minute of an entertaining match.

La Union Deportiva finished 16th in La Liga last season, which means they've now made it back-to-back campaigns at this level. They're aiming to secure a third straight season in the top flight for the first time since 2018.

Recent Performance

Barcelona La Liga form:WWWWLD

Barcelona form (all competitions):WWWLDW

Las Palmas La Liga form:LWWLWL

Las Palmas form (all competitions):WWWLWL

Team News

It looks like Barcelona are going to have a lot more players available for Saturday's game. Lamine Yamal is back in training and should be fit to play against Las Palmas after missing the last three matches through injury.

Ferran Torres will be back in the squad, but Ronald Araujo isn't yet taking part in full training, so it seems likely that the Uruguay international will miss out once again, along with Ansu Fati, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen and Marc-André ter Stegen.

Casado is also out of this game because of a suspension after getting sent off late in the match against Celta. That should mean Frenkie de Jong can play in the middle of midfield.

Gavi's still being monitored for fitness because of how long he's been out, so it's likely he'll come off the bench on Saturday afternoon.

Las Palmas will have a fully fit squad for Saturday's game, as they did for the last one against Mallorca. No new injuries have been reported.

It's unlikely there'll be any big surprises in the Las Palmas line-up, with Sandro Ramírez likely to face his former club, while Manu Fuster should also keep his place up front.

Fabio Silva has scored three times in his last five La Liga appearances, so he'll be continuing in the final third of the field. It looks like Jaime Mata, Alberto Moleiro and Oli McBurnie will all be starting on the bench.

Possible starting lineup

Barcelona possible starting lineup:

Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski

Las Palmas possible starting lineup:

Cillessen; Rozada, Suarez, McKenna, Munoz; Essugo, Campana; Sandro, K Rodriguez, Fuster; F Silva