ALMOST 4-0 BARCA! A ball from the right-hand side by Messi is weighted perfectly but Suarez dragged it wide left. Another near-goal for the home side!
90'
STAT: Las Palmas been unable to claim victory at the Camp Nou since 1971.
88'
A goal from Suarez is disallowed! The overhead kick into the bottom-left corner will not count as the referee judged that the striker pushed his defensive counterpart before striking the ball.
86'
STAT: Barcelona have outscored their opponents 16-1 at home in La Liga so far this season including today.
84'
André Gomes enters the game and replaces Andrés Iniesta.
Andres Iniesta, who came on during halftime is being substituted by Ernesto Valverde. Andre Gomes will come in to replace him. There was no sign that the cause of the substitution was injury related.
82'
A great ball played to Calleri on the ground is met by ter Stegen who came rushing out of his goal, and his penalty box, to clear any potential danger. Great awareness by the young German keeper.
80'
A Suarez free-kick is struck well but goes wide-right of Chichizola who has been put under immense pressure of late.
78'
Vicente Gómez enters the game and replaces Hernán.
H. Toledo enters the game and replaces Tana.
Hernan's day is done in midfield, and he will be replaced by Vicente Gomez
Ayestaran also selects to replace Tana for Toledo after his side has gone down by three goals.
77'
L. Messi has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by L. Suárez.
Luis Suarez, who set Messi up with the first-time pass will be given the assist.
MAGIC FROM MESSI AGAIN AND ITS 3-0! Incredible build-up play from Rakitic who passes short to Suarez. The Uruguayan striker then played the ball first time for Messi whose run met the ball in perfect timing and slotted it past Chichizola! It’s his 11th goal of the season and it’s a beauty.
75'
Las Palmas have been slightly lacking in the attacking third, with a lack of opportunity and fortune to blame. Barca have met the some good build-up play with a strong defensive effort of their own and are deserving of their lead, which is not to discredit the Canary Island club.
Minute
Description
72'
STAT: Las Palmas have scored as many goals in La Liga as Lionel Messi so far this season - 10.
70'
L. Messi has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by Denis Suárez.
The ball from the corner comes to Messi who strikes it with his left and misses the net. The referee deemed there was a touch on the ball on the way through, and Barca are awarded another corner.
THIS TIME THE BALL IS PUT INTO THE NET BY MESSI! Denis Suarez played Messi onside and into a one-on-one situation with Chichizola. In traditional style, the diminuitive Argentine danced past the goalkeeper and almost walked the ball into the net. 2-0 Barca!
Denis Suarez is credited with the assist after his silky pass played Messi through on goal.
68'
A fantastic chance where the ball cycled through every Barcelona attacking player is put out for a corner after Iniesta’s lay-off for Rakitic is cleared with vigor.
67'
Las Palmas have been resolute in their defending all game, with their only lapse in concentration coming from a set-piece. Ayestaran should be very proud of his team’s performance so far – regardless of result.
65'
Great defending from Michel who disrupts a one-two passing move between Suarez and Roberto on the left flank. The ball is given back to Messi who is pushed wide by Michel and the weak shot is grabbed by Chichizola.
63'
Jonathan Viera created some space to charge into and took a shot which he seemingly took with the outside of his boot. The chance didn’t trouble ter Stegen as it went well wide.
61'
Barcelona are once again building up possession patiently. They are certainly in a better place to do so since the introduction of two influential midfielders: Iniesta and Rakitic. Las Palmas led in ball retention statistics in the first half, which is likely to change now that the Blaugrana have taken the lead.
59'
Ximo Navarro gets yellow.
A first yellow card of the day for Las Palmas is given to Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani.
58'
Ivan Rakitic draws a free-kick in a dangerous area after cutting in from the right and being brought down after a tug from a Las Palmas midfielder.
The free-kick amounts to nothing after the quick free-kick routine is cut out well by Chichizola.
56'
MESSI MISS! Luis Suarez does fantastically well to keep possession in the box and open himself up to cross the ball across the area for Messi who heads it wide of the goal from 10 yards out. Not a chance the Argentine usually squanders.
55'
A free-kick in a central position for Las Palmas was blasted by the centre-back Lemos. Struck with power, the accuracy was lacking from the defender and it went high above the top-left corner of the goal.
53'
STAT: In 8 previous meetings between the two sides, Las Palmas are winless – only managing 2 out of a possible 24 points.
51'
L. Suárez gets yellow.
It’s a yellow card for Suarez after the referee deemed that the Uruguayan took a dive. He was running onto a through ball and bearing down on goal when Chichizola came out to make the stop. Suarez felt contact, which was minimal if any and jumped over the keeper. A good decision by the referee.
49'
Sergio Busquets has scored a goal for Barcelona! Assist by L. Messi.
Messi is credited with the assist after taking the corner which led to the goal.
AND A GOAL FROM THE CORNER! An in-swinging corner-kick from Lionel Messi is put in an awkward position and Busquets got his head to it before Chichizola got a fist to punch it away. 1-0 Barcelona!
48'
FANTASTIC STRIKE FROM RAKITIC! After Messi had lost possession, the bouncing ball fell to the substitute Rakitic who volleyed it and Chichizola pushed it over the bar for a corner.
47'
Lionel Messi strikes a free-kick from roughly 35m out but once again Chichizola gets his hands to the curler and pushes it out of danger but still in play.
46'
Andrés Iniesta enters the game and replaces Aleix Vidal.
I. Rakitić enters the game and replaces Paulinho.
Ivan Rakitic will enter the fray in the second half for Paulinho.
Aleix Vidal will also not return for the second period, with Iniesta taking his place.
45' +1
Jordi Alba gets yellow.
Jordi Alba is also carded after excessive protestations after the halftime whistle.
45'
Sergio Busquets gets yellow.
Busquets is carded after complaining to the match official about a yellow card not given to Calleri after a high boot made contact with Sergi Roberto's face - drawing blood.
We're underway in the second half!
43'
CALLERI STRIKES THE POST! A fantastic through ball to Tannane from Hernan is pulled back for Calleri who rifles it off ter Stegen’s left post. The ball is then taken by Barcelona the other way where they have won themselves a corner. The chance ends when the ball, funneled to Messi is shot high and wide of the intended top-right corner.
41'
Luis Suarez dances past three on the left-hand side but his shot is blasted at Lemos, and the ball ricochets out of the area where Las Palmas collect and reset their midfield.
39'
Messi rides the challenge of four defenders as only he can, but the ball gets a touch off of a Las Palmas man. Chichizola intervened well and cleared before Barca could claim their corner-kick.
37'
After a shaky start, Las Palmas has grown well into the match. Though the final ball has been missing, the Canary club have acquitted themselves well in defence and have been using that solid base as a platform for their marauding counter-attacks.
35'
Piqué gets yellow.
A quick second yellow of the match goes to Pique who tugged on the shorts of Calleri who was leading a counter-attack. A tactical foul by the Spaniard.
33'
Paulinho gets yellow.
A first yellow card of the game goes to Paulinho who was over-zealous in his chance to close down Chichizola and made contact with the kicking leg of the keeper.
CLOSE FROM PAULINHO! Sergi Roberto hits the by-line and crosses in a beautiful ball for the Brazilian who was stood right on the penalty spot. He puts his header down and to the left of Chichizola’s post.
32'
A cross from Tannane, who has been very involved today, goes over the head of a charging Calleri who barges into a well-placed Sergi Roberto. The Spanish right-back won his team a key free-kick in their own penalty area.
30'
A corner taken from the left-hand side was met well by Pique, but the ball connected with the top of his head and sprung over the bar for a goal-kick. Another opportunity in this match goes begging.
28'
ALMOST A GOAL FOR CALLERI! A great through-ball to Tannane by Aquilani was pulled back to the penalty spot for Calleri to touch in but a great touch by a Barcelona defender cleared any potential danger.
27'
An in swinging corner by Tannane is brought down by Calleri but cleared by Barcelona out to Suarez on the left flank. The Uruguayan was subsequently disposed on the halfway line.
25'
Tannane with a ranged shot outside of the box does not trouble ter Stegen who collects comfortably. A wasted 3 on 3 opportunity.
23'
Denis Suarez went in on Chichizola alone and managed to bring the goalkeeper out of his net, but the cross in to the box was blocked and out for a corner which goes all the way back to ter Stegen.
21'
A Messi free-kick outside the area was palmed away well by Chichizola and the recycled ball cleared which has turned into a Las Palmas counter attack.
20'
Possible penalty shouts for Barcelona are rejected by the referee. Aleix Vidal was played into the box with a ball over the top. Vidal hit the floor after a coming together with the Las Palmas defence but the appeal was not strong enough. A good decision to wave away the claims.
18'
A promising Las Palmas counter-attack broke down quickly as a misplaced pass in the attacking third by Calleri was cut out well by Barca’s Brazilian summer signing – Paulinho.
16'
Las Palmas were in an attacking position but are quickly forced all the way back to the keeper who gets a big boot to it – promptly giving the ball right back to Barcelona and ter Stegen.
14'
Barcelona are not too fussed going forward at the minute, passing the ball around the midfield and the defence allowing everybody to get a touch in the move. The final ball to Aleix Vidal was a good one, but the right-winger was quickly dispossessed.
12'
Las Palmas are building up slowly, just keeping possession and trying to get a foothold in the match.
10'
Las Palmas have been on the back-foot all game but have done well in the first ten minutes to disrupt the passing moves of Barcelona through the middle – but will have to tighten up the wings as Sergi Roberto gets in again, but the ball played to him was too powerful and rolled out for a goal-kick.
7'
Barcelona in typical fashion are quick to close down the midfield, swarming the in-possession Las Palmas midfield before they have a chance to look up and survey their options.
5'
A weak shot from Sergi Roberto in a central position was easy for Chichizola to collect.
4'
Aleix Vidal and Sergi Roberto are finding a lot of joy already in the space behind Borja Herrera. They’ve targeted that area on two or three ventures forward, and on the last opportunity found Suarez in space before it took a touch off of the Argentinian and out for a goal-kick.
2'
Barcelona have started off well, attacking down the flanks with their advanced full-backs. They are their usual selves in possession – poised and confident.
1'
We're underway at the Camp Nou!
A first yellow card of the game goes to Paulinho who was over-zealous in his chance to close down Chichizola and made contact with the kicking leg of the keeper.
The hosts have started the season in scintillating form despite their off-field organizational troubles. Barca have not dropped a single point in all competitions since back-to-back defeats to Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercup. The Blaugrana have kept a clean sheet in six of their eight fixtures in La Liga and Champions League, while scoring a combined twenty-four goals, making them both league leaders and top scorers in Spain. Unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi has been the catalyst for recent success, having scored eleven goals so far this year.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text commentary of Barcelona vs Las Palmas from the Camp Nou in Barcelona!
The Canary Island club has not been able to score efficiently having been blanked in half of their Liga games this year while conceding ten goals – half of those to Atletico Madrid in a 5-1 drubbing. A host of injuries including summer signing Loic Remy and child prodigy Alen Halilovic complicate matters further, especially considering both of Remy’s goals this year have come in their only two wins of the season.
Las Palmas’ start has not gone all their own way. They currently sit in seventeenth place, tied with Eibar below them in the relegation zone. Four losses from six matches were enough to see former manager Manuel Márquez hand in his resignation. Former Rafa Benitez assistant and Valencia boss Pako Ayestaran has been called in as replacement – but he will face a stern first test at the home of the current table toppers.
The team news has just been announced, so lets start with the home side:
Barcelona substitutes: Nelson Semedo, Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta, Jasper Cillessen, Gerard Deulofeu, Andre Gomes, Samuel Umtiti.
Barcelona starting XI (4-4-2): Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Jordi Alba, Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique, Sergi Roberto; Denis Suarez, Paulinho, Sergio Busquets, Aleix Vidal; Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi.
Las Palmas starting XI (4-2-3-1): Leandro Chichizola; Michel, Ximo Navarro, Mauricio Lemos, Borja Herrera; Alberto Aquilani, Hernan; Tana, Jonathan Viera, Oussama Tannane; Jonathan Calleri.
Pako Ayestaran has decided against making a host of changes in his first game in charge. The new boss has chosen to keep the same formation and starting line-up as Las Palmas’ 2-0 defeat to Leganes except in the midfield, where Alberto Aquilani will today partner Hernan instead of Javi Castellano.
Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has made three changes since his side’s last La Liga match, a 3-0 win against Girona. Gerard Pique reprises his usual role in the defense alongside Mascherano. Sergio Busquets replaces Iniesta who will be rested to start the match and Ivan Rakitic also makes way for wide-man Denis Suarez.
Today's match will be played behind closed doors as a result of political unrest in Barcelona amid an attempt to hold a referendum on Catalan independence. Due to the inability of police to guarantee the protection and safety of those who were travelling to the Camp Nou, it has been decided that the match will continue as planned, but without spectators present, after requests to postpone the game were, according to Barca, rejected by the Spanish Football League (LFP).
HALF-TIME: Barcelona 0-0 Las Palmas
Barcelona has also had their fair share of good attempts, with a superb Messi free-kick only being saved by the outstretched palms of Chichizola on the goal-line. The subdued atmosphere may have impacted the Catalan club in the first-half but they will have to find their rhythm without the support of a packed Camp Nou. Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto have done well to find space behind the Las Palmas full-backs, but have yet to turn those opportunities into goals.
Things have gone for Las Palmas as well as they could have hoped for. They go into the interval level with Barcelona and having arguably the better chances. The link-up play between Calleri and Tannane has been potent, with the Canaries creating a couple of good chances that were not given the finish they deserved. A Calleri post was the closest Las Palmas came to beating ter Stegen, but unfortunately for the Argentine striker, he was unable to notch his third goal of the season.
FULL-TIME from the Camp Nou: Barcelona 3 - 0 Las Palmas.
It was a slow start from the Catalan club who were kept goalless through the first 45 minutes. Las Palmas showed defensive resilience and organization in their first game under Pako Ayestaran but all that good work was undone in the second half. Ernesto Valverde’s introduction of Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta at half-time changed the complexion of the game and made Barcelona more confident in possession. From there it was all Barcelona in attack and the chances, and the goals began to flood. It was Sergio Busquets who finally broke the deadlock, scoring his first La Liga goal since the 2014-2015 season. Subsequent finishes from Lionel Messi tripled the score line and Ayestaran was powerless to turn the tides of the match – despite introducing two substitutes after falling behind by three.
For Las Palmas, the score does not match the performance. A Calleri chance which hit the post and a number of great forward moves spurred on by Tannane were not enough and ter Stegen’s goal was not compromised. Pako Ayestaran certainly has his work cut out for him, but there were certainly signs that this Las Palmas side are just underperforming – and not out of their depth. Next up for Las Palmas is a chance to rebound at home against Celta de Vigo after the international break. As for Barcelona, they look to continue their perfect start despite a difficult tie against Atleico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.
It was a slow start from the Catalan club who were kept goalless through the first 45 minutes. Las Palmas showed defensive resilience and organization in their first game under Pako Ayestaran but all that good work was undone in the second half. Ernesto Valverde’s introduction of Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta at half-time changed the complexion of the game and made Barcelona more confident in possession. From there it was all Barcelona in attack and the chances, and the goals began to flood. It was Sergio Busquets who finally broke the deadlock, scoring his first La Liga goal since the 2014-2015 season. Subsequent finishes from Lionel Messi tripled the score line and Ayestaran was powerless to turn the tides of the match – despite introducing two substitutes after falling behind by three.
That is all for the match between Barcelona and Las Palmas. We hope you enjoyed the match and we hope to see you soon!
Commentary
More…