Barcelona narrowed the gap to La Liga leaders Real Madrid to five points by overcoming the resistance of visiting team Las Palmas.
The match took a turn in Barcelona’s favor when Las Palmas goalkeeper Alvaro Valles was shown a red card after 26 minutes, leaving his team with a numerical disadvantage. It was Raphinha who eventually capitalized on Barcelona’s extra player, scoring the decisive goal.
Despite Valles’ stellar performances this season, his reckless decision to challenge Raphinha outside the box made Las Palmas’ task even tougher.
Las Palmas, currently positioned 12th in their first season back in La Liga and seemingly safe from relegation, showed resilience even after the break.
Barcelona’s substitute, Joao Felix, made an immediate impact by setting up Raphinha with a beautifully lofted pass, resulting in a well-executed header.
However, Joao Felix missed an opportunity to secure the win when he hit the crossbar from close range.
In the closing stages of the game, Las Palmas threatened to equalize, with Alberto Moleiro’s shot narrowly missing the target, much to Barcelona’s relief.
Real Madrid will aim to extend their lead when they face fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, as they strive to reclaim the Spanish title after Barcelona’s victory last season.
With just eight rounds of games left after this weekend, Real Madrid appears to be in a strong position to maintain their dominance. Meanwhile, Barcelona continues to trail their arch-rivals, with a crucial encounter between the two teams scheduled for April 21st at the Bernabeu.
