Barcelona's Unsettled Score with Las Palmas

Barcelona aims to win this Saturday and settle an unsettled score with Las Palmas from three months ago, when the Canary Islands team visited Lluis Companys and unleashed chaos in the Catalan city. On November 30, the team led by Hansi Flick fell 1-2, stringing together three consecutive league setbacks and ultimately squandering all the advantage they had gained in the early months of the competition. The bubble burst on that occasion, and now the goal is to keep inflating it in a league with three contenders, where the Catalans hope to have learned a lesson.

Indeed, Barça has faced more challenges this season against teams expected to be in the lower zone than against those vying for European spots. This is evidenced by the setback against Las Palmas and also the one against Leganés fifteen days later, also at home (0-1). In both cases, the Catalans showed significant issues against teams set up in a low block with a clear mission to reduce spaces. Such matches have been troublesome for Barcelona and could be a likely scenario in their visit to Gran Canaria. "I think they are a better team than their position in the table shows. They proved it at Montjuic. The results haven't been going well for them, but they have many injuries. We have to show how good we are," Flick demanded this Friday.

The German coach faces a match with many incentives. The main one is defending the recently reclaimed league leadership, and the second is preventing his players from getting distracted by what's ahead for the Catalan team. On Tuesday, they host Atlético in the first leg of the Copa semifinals, a crucial match that is on the mind of the Catalan coach. "We have to think about this match and the following ones, but the most important is the clash against Las Palmas," the German coach assured.

That duel against Atlético will influence a lineup that will see changes. And that's despite Barça not playing in the Champions League, although that won't alter Flick's meticulous minute management. Cubarsí, Gavi, and Pedri might rest, with Araujo, Casadó, who has lost his place in the starting lineup, and Dani Olmo, who must seize such opportunities to regain his spot in the attacking midfield, taking their places. The three would join a lineup where Koundé will return to the right-back position after his suspension against Rayo, and the trident of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Lewandowski will once again be the main threat.

Facing them will be a team plagued by misfortune. Diego Martínez's side is struggling and has plunged into the relegation battle after collecting just one point from the last 18. The record clearly highlights the problems Las Palmas is facing, now the second most conceded team, only behind Valladolid, and desperately needing a miracle like the one they achieved in the first round at Montjuic.

To achieve this, the island team must overcome the absences of Cardona, Januzaj, Marvin, Pelmard, Kirian, and Fabio Silva. "We have already emerged from a critical situation," warned Diego Martínez this Friday.

Probable line-ups:

Las Palmas: Cillessen, Viti, Suárez, McKenna, Mármol, Loiodice, Bajcetic, Fuster, Muñoz, Moleiro, and McBurnie.

Barcelona: Szczesny, Koundé, Araujo, Iñigo Martínez, Balde, Casadó, De Jong, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Raphinha, and Lewandowski.

Referee: Cordero Vega (Cantabrian Committee).

Stadium and time: Estadio de Gran Canaria. 21:00 h. (Movistar LaLiga).