Las Palmas – Barcelona

Barcelona should easily defeat La Liga newcomer away

Barcelona will play away against Las Palmas. The Catalans are going through a difficult time. They are already struggling to stay in the championship race. The gap between the leaders is seven points. Las Palmas in the first season in La Liga exceeds all possible expectations. The modest team manages to stay in the top ten. Barcelona gave out a black series of matches before the festive break. The defeat to Girona was followed by a misfire in the game with Valencia. And the victory over Almeria turned out with a very unpleasant flavour. The fact is that in the locker room of Barcelona resonant conflict. Several publications wrote about it at once. Coach Xavi snapped at his players, reproaching them for their lack of willpower. Barcelona's main headache is still the position of centre-forward. Lewandowski is clearly playing worse than expected of him. Injuries also remain a problem: Pedri is out for a long period again, Iñigo Martínez, Gavi and the main goalkeeper ter Stegen will also not play against Las Palmas. Adding to the problems, João Feliz and Rafinha are also out of form. Las Palmas, since November, in seven matches in La Liga suffered only two defeats: the club on the road lost with the same score 0:1 Betis and Atletico. In this context, the failures are understandable. These rivals initially went big favourites. Las Palmas professes a very defensive style. The tactic surprisingly works, although it provokes anomalous series. For example, Las Palmas is the only club in the Spanish league that has not played a single game on a total greater than three. At the same time, the scheme is used not with five defenders, but the standard 4-3-3. The club is in ninth place, but is second from the end of the table after Cadiz in the number of created goal situations at other people's gates. Fifteen goals in eighteen matches reflect the quality of Las Palmas' attack. But the performance in defence is a rare anomaly, one of the main ones at the moment in European leagues. Las Palmas conceded twelve (!) goals less than expected in the Spanish league. It is clear that such luck cannot be eternal. It is important that Las Palmas is missing a key attacking player Alberto Moleiro. This is the most expensive footballer in the team. Barcelona after the break should calmly dismantle the outsider with fresh forces. It is doubtful that the favourite team will lack motivation this time. There is a gulf in class between the performers. It is safe to expect a rout. Las Palmas' defensive performance is not supported by analytical data. Barcelona may well be able to bring them up to fairer numbers.