La Liga: Las Palmas Stun Barcelona with 2-1 Victory on Their 125th Anniversary

Barcelona, Nov 30 (NationPress) FC Barcelona’s 125th-anniversary festivities were overshadowed by a surprising 2-1 defeat to Las Palmas at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Saturday.

This loss marked their first home defeat of the season, extending their winless streak to three league games and putting their previously comfortable league position at risk.

The day began with excitement, featuring the launch of a new club anthem, the unveiling of a special halved shirt inspired by Barcelona’s original colors, and the introduction of a new mascot. However, Las Palmas, revitalized under coach Diego Martínez, put a damper on the celebrations with a disciplined and passionate display.

Barcelona’s troubles started early when Alejandro Balde suffered a concussion, forcing him to leave the pitch. This injury compounded their worries, particularly against a Las Palmas squad that included former Barca players Jasper Cillessen, Mika Marmol, and Sandro Ramírez.

Despite generating several opportunities, Barcelona found it difficult to penetrate a stout Las Palmas defense. Raphinha struck the crossbar in the dying seconds of the first half, leaving supporters hoping for a stronger performance in the second half.

Those hopes were quickly dashed just four minutes into the second half when a rapid counterattack culminated in a precise finish from Sandro Ramírez.

Raphinha briefly lifted Barca’s spirits with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, equalizing the score and sparking a renewed push for a comeback. However, substitute Fabio Silva’s breathtaking solo goal restored Las Palmas’ lead to 2-1, dousing the enthusiasm.

Barcelona poured all their resources forward in the final 20 minutes, but Jasper Cillessen was impenetrable in goal. The Dutch goalkeeper made a series of fantastic saves, including a stunning stop from a Raphinha free kick, maintaining Las Palmas’ advantage.

This defeat was Barcelona’s first home loss to Las Palmas since 1970 and concluded a disappointing day for fans eager for a celebratory win. Manager Hansi Flick will now seek to motivate his team ahead of Tuesday’s match against Mallorca, as Barcelona aims to stabilize their faltering campaign.