Las Palmas Upsets Barcelona at Montjuic, Spoiling Anniversary Celebrations

Barcelona could not have had a more disappointing celebration on their 125th anniversary this Saturday. The team, led by Hansi Flick, fell to Las Palmas in a match marked by inaccuracies, with the Catalans unable to find solutions to unlock the game. Goals from Sandro and Fábio Silva punished a team unable to stop the opponent's transitions, increasingly doubtful and better known by their rivals, now seeing their leadership threatened as they become dependent on Real Madrid.

Despite the excellent atmosphere, the team was distracted. Whether it was the flags filling the stands, the white shorts in homage to the first blue and red kit, or the presence of Cat, the club's new mascot, the Catalans started off on the wrong foot. Lamine Yamal and Olmo were also absent from the lineup, causing a shuffle of players that Flick resolved with Gavi as a pivot, Fermín in the attacking midfield, and Pablo Torre on the right flank.

The experiment did not go well. The pressure from the Catalans in the opponent's half was ineffective, and Las Palmas, very brave, took advantage to let loose and push forward. The Canary Islanders did so thanks to transitions that have become a headache for Flick, just as they were for his predecessors. Thus, Sandro faced Iñaki Peña, and McKenna had the chance to open the scoring. In both cases, lack of precision deprived Diego Martínez's team of a reward after a good start.

The two warnings did serve, however, to wake Barcelona up and postpone the celebrations for another time. The Catalans got into the game as they have done in the last decades of their extensive history, through possession. Flick brought together Gavi, Pedri, and Fermín, and, as if that were not enough, two wingers on opposite flanks. The creative players helped minimize ball losses but did not create imbalances. Barcelona was a funnel, and neither Koundé nor Balde, who had to be stretchered off after a collision with Sandro, could widen the field and show a different approach to unsettle Diego Martínez's side. Only Fermín, with a central shot, and Raphinha, with a left-footed strike that hit the woodwork, tested a Cillessen who went into the break with barely used gloves.

After the restart, Flick ended the experiments. He brought on Lamine Yamal for Pablo Torre and sent Raphinha to his natural position this year. The change could have benefited Barcelona, but it was overshadowed by a brilliant move from Sandro. The former Barcelona player was lively throughout the match, a constant threat, and this time he did not miss after a counterattack where the Catalans' pressure failed. He finished low past Iñaki Peña, setting off alarms at full blast at Lluis Companys.

Immediately, Flick reacted with three more changes. Frenkie de Jong, Ferran Torres, and Héctor Fort came on, and Barcelona began to tilt the field towards Las Palmas' goal. The Catalans advanced step by step, pushing back an opponent facing mounting problems. Pedri was now freer, and Raphinha was undetectable in the attacking midfield. In one of those moments, the Brazilian turned without opposition and unleashed an unstoppable low shot for Cillessen.

It was a new game with half an hour to go, and Barcelona was going to start badly again. A long pass was won by Fábio Silva with a prodigious control and converted into a goal with a cross shot that silenced Lluis Companys. From there, nerves set in. The Catalans tried by all means, but Cillessen thwarted every chance from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, Flick's most accurate player. Barcelona has now gone three consecutive league games without a win and sees Real Madrid four points ahead with two games in hand.