Pre-Match Thread: Las Palmas vs Barcelona [La Liga]

#Match Information:

 

**Match**: [](#laspalmas) Las Palmas vs Barcelona [](#barcelona)

**Competition**: La Liga

**Date**: Thursday, 4th of January 2024

**Time**: 21:30 CET / 15:30 EST – [Convert to local time](https://www.time.is/1704400200)

**Venue**: [Estadio Gran Canaria, Las Palmas](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/Vista_nocturna_del_EGC.JPG) – 32392 capacity

**Referee**: Pablo González Fuertes

 

#Lineups and Squads:

 

[](#barcelona) **Barcelona** – [Official squad confirmed](https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/1742584239613211009/photo/1)

**GK**: ~~Ter Stegen~~, Iñaki Peña, **Ander Astralaga**, **Diego Kochen**

**DEF**: João Cancelo, Álex Baldé, Araújo, Íñigo Martínez, Christensen, ~~Alonso~~, Koundé, **Pau Cubrsi**, **Héctor Fort**

**MID**: ~~Gavi~~, ~~Pedri~~, Oriol Romeu, Sergi Roberto, Frenkie, Gündoğan, **Fermín López**

**ATT**: Ferran Torres, Lewandowski, Raphinha, João Félix, Vitor Roque, **Lamine Yamal**

**Unavailable**: Ter Stegen, Alonso, Gavi, Pedri (injured) Íñigo Martínez (doubtful)

**Not called**:

 

[](#laspalmas) **Las Palmas** – Official squad to be confirmed

**GK**: Aarón Escandell, Álvaro Vallés

**DEF**: Sergi Cardona, Alex Suárez, Éric Curbelo, Álvaro Lemos, Mika Mármol, Daley Sinkgraven, Saúl Coco, Julian Araujo

**MID**: Javier Muñoz, Maximo Perrone, ~~Alberto Moleiro~~, Enzo Loiodice, Kirian Rodríguez, Omenuke Mfulu, ~~Fabio Gonzalez~~

**ATT**: Marvin, Cristian Herrera, Sandro Ramírez, Benito Ramírez, Sory Kaba, Munir, Cardona, Pejiño

**Unavailable**: Alberto Moleiro, Fabio Gonzalez (injured)

**Not called**:

 

#Form guide:

 

**Las Palmas**

– **Form**: **[L]** D W W W

– **Goals scored**: 6

– **Goals conceded**: 3

– **Last match**: Athletic Club 1:0 Las Palmas – La Liga

**Barcelona**

– **Form**: **[W]** D L L W

– **Goals scored**: 9

– **Goals conceded**: 10

– **Last match**: FC Barcelona 3:2 Almería – La Liga

 

#Head-to-head:

 

– **Last meeting**: Las Palmas 1:1 FC Barcelona

– **Date**: Thursday, 1st of March 2018, 21:00 CET

– **Competition**: La Liga

– **Threads**: [Pre-match thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/80z644/pre_match_thread_las_palmas_vs_barcelona_la_liga/) | [Match thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/817s0x/match_thread_las_palmas_vs_barcelona_la_liga/) | [Post-match thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/)

– **Highlights**: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDz89bDGT0k

 

#Comments (Post-match thread):

 

Author: **utpalbalse** | Score: **179** pts | **[Source](https://reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/dv1gdc6/)**

> Paulinho was fucking awful.

Author: **IceSalamander** | Score: **106** pts | **[Source](https://reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/dv1gipq/)**

> EV really fucked up. Could have rested Suarez for the Atletico match but instead chooses to play him in a match where he is too scared to play aggressively.

Author: **badoosh123** | Score: **104** pts | **[Source](https://reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/dv1gfaz/)**

> Ok, I just want to say something for future reference:

> It is completely fine to criticize EV or the team in constructive ways. No, I am not smarter than EV, and no I am not a football expert. BUT, what is the point of this sub if we cannot discuss and criticize choices in a respectful way?

> Today, I think EV got it wrong and I think that the team didn’t bring it. Yes the pen call was BS, but we had 1 shot on goal the second half and their wingbacks were outplaying ours. Vidal and Paulinho were literally useless and should not have started, especially Paulinho. I think we play much better with Coutinho and Dembele for at least 60 min.

> Now, you might be asking why are people a bit scared of these performances even though we literally have lost only one match so far? The answer is because in 2016 we looked even better than what we do now and lost form for 2-3 weeks with the same symptoms this team has this year and we crashed out of CL and almost lost the league.

> Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying EV out or anything even close to that. But he got some stuff wrong today imo, and its not fair to just gatekeep those opinions and say “you think know more than EV?!!?!”.

Author: **zzlew** | Score: **93** pts | **[Source](https://reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/dv1gecs/)**

> Three points:

> – I can’t, for the life of me understand why EV wouldn’t start anyone else but Suarez. He is so dependent on his aggression when he plays. He was absolutely toothless today and you have Dembélé, Paco and Coutinho on the bench

> – I know this is something people is murdered for saying, but: it is frustrating that Messi doesn’t even run and press during the last ten minutes in such a game

> – not winning a match like this is so STUPID. Three points here are exactly as much three points as in an Atletico match and the match is thus almost as important. This is on EV for not getting players mentally prepared and starting with a … peculiar line-up.

Author: **[deleted]** | Score: **91** pts | **[Source](https://reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/dv1gd21/)**

> I don’t give a fuck if we “didn’t take our chances”. That is never a fucking penalty ANYWHERE. If that isn’t called, we win this, Las Palmas had ONE shot on goal and it was their penalty, that’s absolute bullshit. How many times are we gonna have to lose points because of bullshit like this, now Ateltico is 5 points away and everyone is screaming “hay liga”.

Author: **LeonTablet** | Score: **81** pts | **[Source](https://reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/dv1gdsx/)**

> Subbing Iniesta out for Dembele would have only worked if Coutinho had been willing to play as a midfielder. He wasn’t, we had a two man midfield and it showed in the last minutes of the game. Well, actually the entire game considering Vidal’s and Paulinho’s performances.

> We were unlucky, Messi got 5 players carded, but none twice, Chichozola wasn’t red carded, and after Las Palmas tied the game they played with their entire starting XI in the box, and on top of that they defended well, nothing we could do (except play well, which we didn’t tbh).

Author: **Caspoor11** | Score: **47** pts | **[Source](https://reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/dv1ge31/)**

> Yeah Lahoz fucked up big time and all. But this is all on Valverde. Starting Vidal and 4-4-2 because you’re afraid of 18th placed team? this is the kind of games where you go guns blazing! Dembele & Coutinho should’ve started also we were 1 man down the whole match, Suarez was so distracted to not get a yellow and couldn’t play his aggressive way as usual, Paco should’ve started as well.

> I kinda miss Luis Enrique’s guts sometimes when it comes to rotation and offensive play.

> We must win against Atleti. Otherwise….

Author: **Itaney** | Score: **37** pts | **[Source](https://reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/dv1l943/)**

> If Dembele doesn’t start vs Atletico then I simply don’t understand Valverde’s decision to start Vidal today.

Author: **annubv** | Score: **22** pts | **[Source](https://reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/dv1gkvn/)**

> Can’t blame Lahoz alone.
> Las Palmas players were more motivated than us.
> Everybody was making mistakes except Iniesta.
> Paulinho shouldn’t have started at all.
> I’m really curious who will be starting in the next game.

Author: **AiS9** | Score: **15** pts | **[Source](https://reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/dv1ggwx/)**

> So I’m assuming this means Dembele is starting against Atletico 100%? Otherwise there was absolutely no reason for him to be on the bench this game. Vidal should never step foot on our field again and Paulinho needs some games off.

> Iniesta wasn’t terrible but nothing impressive either after all that rest. Conflicted on who I want to see start but it will probably be him.

Author: **Cules2003** | Score: **14** pts | **[Source](https://reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/dv1gwwy/)**

> As I said earlier the Atletico game is a *must* win now, especially at home. Non negotiable. This is only the second time Valverde had messed up but he has to take responsibility today. Starting both Vidal and Paulinho always was going to be a disaster.

> As for Paulinho, he’s clearly burned out. Anyone can see it. 78 games this season (or year not sure) is ridiculous. He needs a week of light training and hopefully he returns stronger than ever. Saw him lose a few physical battles with different players today, very unlike him.

Author: **imjackwastedlife** | Score: **13** pts | **[Source](https://reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/dv1gev5/)**

> What a dissapointing game. We totally underestimated Las Palmas. A lot of people have been blaming the ref, but I think he was fair except for the handball from the goal keeper outside the box he managed the game well.we have to stop blaming every draw and losson referee. It’s not his fault we didn’t have a shot on target on 2nd half (except dembele light shot at the end.)

> •I didn’t like what I saw in midfield.
> Paulinho didn’t help Busquets defensively at all in 1st half.
> After we subbed out Iniesta we lost the midfield.

> •This game showed that Dembele and Coutinho have still left to adjust to the system, they were forcing it and their positiong was not good. Especially Dembele’s he was very close to Roberto which made it easier for Las Palma’s defenders to guard them.

> • In the first half everybody was relying in Messi and in 2nd one he was free a lot of times and got ignored, that was unacceptable if Messi wants the ball you fucking give it to him.

> • Overall very poor performance. We have to get on a rhythm, more consistent. And we can’t burn out after a great 1st half of the season.
> Hopefully this is a wake up call for us, and we get on track now that we have to win and tear Atletico a new one. We sure as hell aren’t going to underestimate them.

Author: **beardedTortoise** | Score: **8** pts | **[Source](https://reddit.com/r/Barca/comments/819cbm/post_match_thread_las_palmas_11_barcelona_la_liga/dv1h2o9/)**

> Props to Suarez for not getting a yellow, especially considering the (wish I could say shocking, but at this point it’s almost expected) refereeing. Suarez shouldn’t have started though, he couldn’t be his usual aggressive self and it showed.

> Paulinho showing again that he shouldn’t be a starter but a sub. Don’t really have anyone else to give Rakitic rest though while semedo is injured.

> Dembele was decent in the few minutes he got, imo should have started over Vidal. He needs more playing time to mesh better with the team and improve his decision making.

> Digne wasn’t terrible, but our left flank always suffers when Alba isn’t playing.

> Coutinho was pretty confident on the ball but after Iniesta went off he didn’t really seem to want to play in the midfield and we suffered as a result.

> Aguirregaray was fantastic for Las Palmas.

> Lahoz was shit as always but our second half performance wasn’t anything to write home about either.

 

#Quotes:

 

 

#Latest News:

 

[[Squad] – The squad for the game against Las Palmas](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/3848415/the-squad-for-the-game-against-las-palmas) – **fcbarcelona.com**

[[Article] – Xavi Hernández expects ‘fight for possession’ in Las Palmas](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/3848282/xavi-hernandez-expects-fight-for-possession-in-las-palmas) – **fcbarcelona.com**

[[Article] – FC Barcelona’s starts to the year this century](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/3840275/fc-barcelonas-starts-to-the-year-this-century) – **fcbarcelona.com**

[[Article] – The lowdown on Unión Deportiva Las Palmas](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/3840281/the-lowdown-on-union-deportiva-las-palmas) – **fcbarcelona.com**

[[Training] – Full focus on Las Palmas](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/3847137/full-focus-on-las-palmas) – **fcbarcelona.com**

[[Training] – First training session of 2024](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/3846345/first-training-session-of-2024) – **fcbarcelona.com**

[[Article] – When and where to watch UD Las Palmas v FC Barcelona?](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/3842482/when-and-where-to-watch-ud-las-palmas-v-fc-barcelona) – **fcbarcelona.com**

 

#TV/Online:

 

**[Livesoccertv](https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/4678461/las-palmas-vs-barcelona/)** | **[Liveonsat](https://liveonsat.com/europe-spain-laliga.php)** | **[FCBarcelona.com](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/football/first-team/news/3842482/when-and-where-to-watch-ud-las-palmas-v-fc-barcelona)**

 

by decho