Barcelona’s Struggles Continue: Las Palmas Stun Barça on Anniversary Night
Barcelona fans were left stunned and frustrated on Saturday as their team suffered a shocking 2-1 defeat to Las Palmas at the Olympic Stadium. What was supposed to be a night of celebration for the club’s 125th anniversary turned into a nightmare, with coach Hansi Flick admitting that a “disconnect” between defense and attack is plaguing his squad. The loss extended Barça’s winless streak in LaLiga to three games, leaving their title hopes hanging by a thread.
The match saw Sandro Ramirez and Fábio Silva score for Las Palmas, while Raphinha managed to pull one back for Barcelona with his 14th goal of the season. Despite dominating possession with 70% and firing 27 shots, Barça couldn’t find the efficiency needed to secure a win. Instead, they were left to rue defensive lapses and a lack of cohesion on the pitch.
125th Anniversary Celebration Spoiled
Saturday’s game was meant to be a joyous occasion for Barcelona, celebrating their storied history and legacy. However, the loss to Las Palmas cast a shadow over the festivities. The defeat also marked a worrying trend for the Catalan giants, who have now gone without a league win since Nov. 3. Their recent form includes a draw with Celta Vigo, where they squandered a two-goal lead, and a loss to Real Sociedad.
To make matters worse, Real Madrid, currently four points behind Barcelona, have two games in hand. If they win both, they could leapfrog Barça and take the top spot in LaLiga. The pressure is mounting, and Flick knows it.
Flick’s Take: “No Excuses”
Speaking at a post-match press conference, Flick didn’t shy away from addressing his team’s struggles. “I believe in the players,” he said. “We have a good team. The matches like today, it happens, OK. When I started here, I said to the players, ‘no excuses.’ We have to keep going as a team.”
Flick emphasized the importance of playing as a cohesive unit, both in attack and defense. “When you play as a team, or better than as a team, and everyone defends well, including in the offense, and is well connected, we can play and win against every team,” he explained. “But if it’s not, if some players are disconnected, then it’s not good, and we have to speak about that.”
The coach was particularly critical of the team’s defending, which he described as a collective issue rather than one limited to the backline. “When you see how the Las Palmas goals are [scored], we make some mistakes, but it was not only the last four, it started also in front,” Flick said. “And we have to speak about that.”
What’s Next for Barcelona?
Despite the recent setbacks, Flick remains optimistic about the team’s potential. “The players believe in how they can play football, how strong they can be,” he said. “I say it again, we need connection, and today it was not [there].”
Barcelona’s upcoming schedule doesn’t get any easier. They face three consecutive away games against Mallorca, Real Betis, and Borussia Dortmund. Flick will be hoping for a turnaround in form as the team looks to regain its footing in both domestic and European competitions.
Injury Updates and Squad News
Flick also provided updates on key players. Dani Olmo didn’t feature against Las Palmas due to a knock but is expected to return for Tuesday’s trip to Mallorca. Meanwhile, Marc Casadó will be back from suspension, and Lamine Yamal is in contention to start after recovering from an ankle injury.
Key Takeaways
- Barcelona’s winless streak in LaLiga now stands at three games.
- Real Madrid could overtake Barça at the top of the table if they win their two games in hand.
- Hansi Flick has called for better team cohesion and defensive discipline.
- Upcoming fixtures against Mallorca, Real Betis, and Borussia Dortmund will be crucial for Barça’s season.
As the season progresses, Barcelona fans will be hoping their team can rediscover the form that saw them win 11 of their first 12 LaLiga games. For now, though, the pressure is on, and the margin for error is razor-thin.
Originally Written by: Sam Marsden
