Sports activities Mole previews Saturday’s La Liga conflict between Barcelona and Las Palmas, together with predictions, group information and doable lineups.
Barcelona will probably be aiming to return to profitable methods in Spain’s high flight once they proceed their home marketing campaign with a house fixture towards Las Palmas on Saturday afternoon.
Hansi Flick‘s aspect have solely picked up one level from their final two league matches, however they sit high of the La Liga desk, 4 factors away from second-placed Actual Madrid, whereas Las Palmas are seventeenth, two factors exterior of the relegation zone.
Match preview
© Imago
Barcelona have simply had a slight wobble in La Liga of late, shedding 1-0 to Actual Sociedad on November 10, earlier than extremely dropping two factors within the latter levels of their contest with Celta Vigo final weekend.
Flick’s aspect had been two objectives forward and cruising in Vigo, however Marc Casado was despatched off within the 82nd minute earlier than Celta netted twice within the last exchanges to safe some extent in a 2-2 draw, and Barcelona’s lead on the summit is now not snug.
The Catalan aspect stay high of the division, 4 factors forward of second-placed Actual Madrid, however the reigning champions have a sport in hand, demonstrating the significance of returning to profitable methods this weekend.
Barcelona will enter this match off the again of a constructive end result, beating Brest 3-0 within the Champions League on Tuesday evening, with the end result leaving them third in the general desk, three factors behind leaders Liverpool.
The hosts have gained all 5 of their league video games in entrance of their very own followers this season, and they are going to be welcoming a Las Palmas outfit which were overwhelmed in 5 of their seven La Liga fixtures on their travels.
Barcelona have one other six matches earlier than the winter break in Spain kicks into motion, together with a standout Champions League conflict away to Borussia Dortmund and a house La Liga affair with Atletico Madrid.
© Imago
Las Palmas haven’t overwhelmed Barcelona in any competitors since February 1991, whereas they haven’t managed to beat the Catalan aspect in La Liga since February 1986, which proved to be a 3-0 success on dwelling soil.
Los Amarillos haven’t overwhelmed Barcelona away from dwelling in La Liga since September 1971, which is a sign of the scale of their activity on this match, however Pio Pio have been victorious in 4 of their final six matches in all competitions.
Diego Martinez has had a constructive impression since being appointed head coach at first of October, profitable 4 of his six video games, with that type shifting the group out of the relegation zone, however a troublesome season to this point has left them in seventeenth, simply two factors above 18th-placed Valencia, who’ve two video games in hand.
Las Palmas will enter this match off the again of a 3-2 defeat to Mallorca, with Johan Mojica arising with the winner within the 91st minute of the entertaining fixture.
La Union Deportiva completed sixteenth in La Liga final time period to make it back-to-back campaigns at this degree, and they’re aiming to safe a 3rd straight season within the high flight for the primary time since 2018.
Barcelona La Liga type:
Barcelona type (all competitions):
Las Palmas La Liga type:
Las Palmas type (all competitions):
Workforce Information
© Imago
Barcelona are anticipated to obtain an enormous health enhance for Saturday’s contest, with Lamine Yamal in line to return from an ankle difficulty; the 17-year-old has missed his aspect’s final three matches by way of damage, however he’s now again in full coaching and is ready to return to the aspect for the conflict with Las Palmas.
Ferran Torres can also be more likely to be again within the squad, however Ronald Araujo shouldn’t be but collaborating in full coaching, so the Uruguay worldwide is once more anticipated to overlook out alongside Ansu Fati, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Casado can also be out of this contest by way of suspension following his late purple card towards Celta, which ought to open the door for Frenkie de Jong to characteristic in the midst of midfield.
Gavi‘s health remains to be being monitored as a result of size of his current absence, so the Spaniard is once more more likely to obtain minutes off the bench on Saturday afternoon.
As for Las Palmas, Martinez had a fully-fit squad towards Mallorca final outing, and that’s once more anticipated to be the case on Saturday, with no recent points being reported.
There are unlikely to be any main surprises in the case of the Las Palmas XI, with Sandro Ramirez in line to face his former membership, whereas Manu Fuster also needs to retain his spot in a ahead space.
Fabio Silva has scored 3 times in his final 5 La Liga appearances and can proceed within the last third of the sphere, with Jaime Mata, Alberto Moleiro and Oli McBurnie all more likely to begin on the bench.
Barcelona doable beginning lineup:
Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Las Palmas doable beginning lineup:
Cillessen; Rozada, Suarez, McKenna, Munoz; Essugo, Campana; Sandro, Okay Rodriguez, Fuster; F Silva
We are saying: Barcelona 2-0 Las Palmas
It’s troublesome to disregard Las Palmas’ current file towards Barcelona when selecting a end result right here, and we’re struggling to see something aside from a routine success for Flick’s aspect, particularly contemplating their current blip in Spain’s high flight.
For knowledge evaluation of the almost certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.