Sandro and Cillessen make Barcelona suffer on 125th anniversary
Sando Ramirez came up against his former employers on Saturday with Las Palmas and certainly made Barcelona suffer at Montjuic during the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations.
The 29-year-old admitted before the match that Barca “gave me everything” but was certainly not in any mood to pay the Catalans back.
A heavy clash on Alejandro Balde in the first half saw the left-back stretchered off in some discomfort and Hansi Flick forced to send on Gerard Martin in his place.
FC Barcelona v UD Las Palmas - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
Sandro then went one better to give Las Palmas a shock lead in the second half after a great move that started with goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.
The former Barcelona goalkeeper also played his part in the win, preventing Raphinha from equalising with a great save from a free-kick in an impressive showing.
As for Barca, they were wasteful in attack and sloppy at the back in a first home defeat of the season that also sees the Catalans lose control of top spot.
Raphinha can’t do it all by himself
Raphinha scored his 14th goal of the season against Las Palmas, scooped the MVP award and was clearly raging after his team lost. “We have been doing poorly. We’re lowering the level of what we were doing. We have to keep working. There are many things we are doing wrong.”
The Brazilian tried his very best to turn the match around but it wasn’t to be. He scored a fine goal and almost added another one, only to see his free-kick just tipped over the bar by Cillessen.
14 - Barcelona have hit the woodwork 14 times in LaLiga 2024/25, four times more than any other team in the Top 5 European leagues this season (Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Cagliari, 10 times each). Jam. pic.twitter.com/wRBg0IzJ3p
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 30, 2024
Yet he was still the best of the bunch. Robert Lewandowski and Fermin Lopez both struggled to make any impact, while Ferran Torres offered very little after he made his latest comeback from injury.
Barca had 27 shots in total, with just eight on target, and enjoyed 70% of the possession but only managed one goal.
The result marks the first time that Raphinha has lost in a La Liga match in which he has scored - let’s hope it’s the last too.
Flick has work to do
After a great start to the season, Flick has seen his side wobble in recent weeks. Saturday’s defeat means it’s three La Liga games without a win, and the German will know he has work to do to get his team firing again.
Tiredness has played a part with the likes of Inigo Martinez, Jules Kounde and Lewandowski playing almost every minute of the campaign. Injuries are also a factor with the likes of Gavi and Frenkie de Jong still searching for their best form.
FC Barcelona v UD Las Palmas - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Marc Casado missed Saturday’s match due to suspension, and his absence was felt, while Lamine Yamal was only given 45 minutes as he works his way back from a few weeks out with an ankle sprain.
Dani Olmo was another absentee who was missed. The summer signing has only made four La Liga starts so far this season but should be back on Tuesday when Barcelona will try to bounce back.
Flick blamed a disconnect between defence and attack on his team’s performance and will have little time to dwell on the result. Mallorca are up next and all eyes will be on Flick in the hope he can turn his team’s form around.