Las Palmas slip up in the second half (3-0)
FC Barcelona scored freely against Las Palmas in the second half of today’s encounter, with two goals by Messi and another by Busquets. With the scores still at 0-0, Calleri was unlucky to hit the post. The game was played behind closed doors in a decisio
It was a strange atmosphere for both Barcelona and Las Palmas not to be playing in front of fans. Until Barça got their first goal the match was a very even affair. After that the leaders found life much easier. It was the first appearance for new manager Pako Ayestarán, who made few changes to his starting line-up. Las Palmas accepted Barça were the better team, and put in a good team effort, paying attention to every detail. However, after the first goal the team caved in.
For the home team, everything revolved around their top star, Leo Messi, who didn’t appear very much in the first half. Las Palmas kept up the pressure, making life uncomfortable for their opponents, blocking the final pass. The first quarter of an hour looked quite positive for the away team, as they comfortably controlled everything the forward line of Barcelona could throw at them.
Chichizola made a great save against a Messi free kick in the 20th minute. Las Palmas then responded a few minutes later with a shot from the edge of the box by Oussama Tannane which Ter Stegen was easily able to collect. Las Palmas forced errors in Barça’s attacking play, and for a short while managed to play high up the pitch and pressure the home team. Calleri had a couple of chances, and came close to scoring. A header by Paulinho (min. 31) went just wide. But Las Palmas by now were playing better and better and with more confidence. Before half time, (min. 44) the post came to the aid of the home team following a snapshot by Jonathan Calleri.
Ernesto Valverde shuffled his pack at half time and made a couple of key changes. Iniesta, who later left the field following injury, and Rakitic, both came on with the intention of untangling the home team’s stodgy football. Chichizola, made two great stops in as many minutes, diving to keep out a Messi free kick, and a long range effort by Rakitic. Then at a corner, Busquets flicked in a header to make the score 1-0, jumping in ahead of Borja Herrera. The game changed from this moment on . Barça began to find some form, and were able to get in behind the yellows’ gaping back line, as they tried to push forward in search of an equaliser. The empty Camp Nou suddenly became immense for the Gran Canarians.
A great piece of skill by Leo Messi made the scoreline 2-0 to Barcelona in the 70th minute. Las Palmas by now were struggling to keep possession, and began to tire, leaving the Catalonian team to hit them with quick counter attacks. In the 77 they went further ahead after a great team move was ended by Messi. At 3-0 the final whistle was blown, in a historical match, but not for footballing reasons.
The 7th match day game in LaLiga Santander between Barcelona and Las Palmas was played behind closed doors to avoid incidents following the controversial events in Catalonia with their referendum. The game hang in the balance during the morning, and the home team actually officially announced the postponement of the match, saying they couldn’t guarantee security during the 90 minutes. UD Las Palmas played with the Spanish flag sewn onto their shirts, together with the today’s date.
