The recent struggles of FC Barcelona in La Liga continued as they failed to secure a victory in their third consecutive match, falling 2-0 to Las Palmas at home. The loss has raised concerns for the Catalan side, who now find themselves letting their lead slip in the Spanish top flight.
The first half, in which Barcelona were extremely poor, ended 0-0 with the team failing to take their chances, most notably with Raphinha smashing the crossbar after an excellent pass by Gavi. The second half, however, was strange for many reasons.
Barcelona played much better in the second half but went down early before Raphinha pulled them level with an absolute banger. Hansi Flick’s men kept knocking on the door but a resilient Jasper Cillesen thwarted all shots on goal, with the mid-table team managing to score a second and secure a famous win.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 30: Fabio Silva of UD Las Palmas celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on November 30, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Captain Raphinha!
With Barcelona trailing 2-1, a comeback seemed possible, but it never materialized. Raphinha, who wore the captain’s armband throughout the 90 minutes, even after Frenkie de Jong’s substitution, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, was the only player to show any real belief in a turnaround.
The Brazilian, who played much of the second half as a No. 10, attempted to take control of the game, creating numerous chances for his teammates. Despite his efforts, a comeback never materialized, and Raphinha appeared visibly disappointed at full-time, even downplaying his goal.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 30: Raphinha of FC Barcelona reacts after a missed chance during the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on November 30, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Time to step up?
Raphinha hinted that the team had ‘lowered their level’ and made ‘many mistakes.’ This has been a recurring issue in recent weeks, with Hansi Flick’s side looking jaded and failing to replicate the attacking flair they displayed earlier in the season.
With Mallorca up next midweek, the team has little time to recover, and Flick must find a way to motivate his players. As captain, Raphinha will play a crucial role in leading the team, and it remains to be seen if Barcelona can halt this mini-slump in the coming days.
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BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 25: Head Coach Hansi Flick of FC Barcelona looks on during the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and Getafe CF at Estadi Lluis Companys on September 25, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona's Brazilian forward #11 Raphinha gestures during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on August 24, 2024.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 30: Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona controls the ball whilst under pressure from Mika Marmol and Enzo Loiodice of UD Las Palmas during the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on November 30, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.