Barcelona vs Las Palmas: Match Preview & predictions
Barcelona vs Las Palmas: Match Preview & predictions. FC Barcelona will be aiming to return to winning ways in La Liga this weekend when they take on Las Palmas at home.
After falling to a shock defeat at Real Sociedad before the November break, Barca threw away a comfortable 2-0 advantage at Celta Vigo last time out, following Marc Casado’s second-half dismissal.
Their excellent start to the new campaign means Hansi Flick‘s side remain four points clear of a flawed Real Madrid team at the top of La Liga, but Los Blancos do have a game in hand.
A 3-0 win over Brest in midweek ensures the hosts head into Saturday’s bout with a bit of confidence and they’ll be expected to cruise against the team that currently sits 17th in La Liga. Barca have won all five home league games this term, while Las Palmas have been beaten in five of their seven away trips.
The Pedri derby has been incredibly one-sided. In fact, Las Palmas have never beaten their upcoming opponents in the 21st century.
Here’s all you need to know about Saturday’s La Liga clash.
What time does Barcelona vs Las Palmas kick-off?
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Stadium: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys
Date: Saturday 30 November
Kick-off: 13:00 GMT / 08:00 ET / 05:00 PT
Referee: Adrian Cordero Vega
VAR: Mateo Busquets Ferrer
Barcelona vs Las Palmas H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Barcelona: 4 wins
Las Palmas: 0 wins
Draws: 1
Last meeting: Barcelona 1-0 Las Palmas (30 March 2024) – La Liga
Barcelona team news:
Barca’s list of absentees remains extensive, but they will be getting Lamine Yamal back this weekend after a fairly brief period on the sidelines. The teenage superstar will come straight into Flick’s XI down the right flank.
Frenkie de Jong has come under fire as of late but will start in place of the suspended Casado. Eric Garcia will likely fill in for Inigo Martinez if the centre-back misses out due to a muscle injury.
Ansu Fati, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are all out, while Ronald Araujo and Ferran Torres are both on the comeback trail.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Las Palmas
Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
Las Palmas team news:
Diego Martínez had no fitness concerns last time out against Mallorca and that’s unlikely to have changed heading into this game.
Former Premier League defender Scott McKenna will start at the back, while Wolves loanee Fabio Silva should also get the nod up top. Oli McBurnie has typically occupied the bench of his new home.
Las Palmas predicted lineup vs Barcelona
Las Palmas (4-2-3-1): Cillessen; Rozada, Suarez, McKenna, Munoz; Essugo, Campana; Sandro, Rodriguez, Fuster; Silva.
Barcelona vs Las Palmas score prediction:
A Barcelona wobble has allowed Real Madrid back into the hunt and Flick’s side will be eager to prove that their blip on either side of the November break is not a sign of things to come.
A return to winning ways was important in midweek, although teams are continuing to have some joy at getting in behind. Las Palmas aren’t exactly blessed with outlets galore, but the visitors may well be gifted with a couple of high-quality opportunities given the absence of personnel in Barca’s backline.
Still, the hosts are poised to canter to three points on home soil. There’s no way this leaky Las Palmas defence will contain a Barca attack buoyed by the return of Yamal and form of Robert Lewandowski.
Prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Las Palmas
