Leaders Barcelona stunned at home by Las Palmas

Barcelona’s wretched La Liga run continued with a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Las Palmas.

Following on from defeat to Real Sociedad and a draw at Celta Vigo, Barcelona can now lose their lead at the top if Real Madrid win their two games in hand.

After a goalless first half, former Barcelona man Sandro Ramirez broke away to put the visitors in front four minutes into the second period.

Six minutes later Raphina, who struck the bar in the first half, drilled a low effort home from 25 yards, but the hosts’ defence always looked vulnerable.

Fabio Silva did superbly to find carve out his own chance, making room between the Barcelona centre-backs and drilling home the winner.

Barcelona are four points clear of Real Madrid at the summit, while Las Palmas are up to 14th after starting the afternoon in fourth-bottom.

Since that win in Spanish football’s biggest match, Barcelona have conceded eight goals in six games.

It is hard to believe the presence of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who they lost for the season due to a knee injury in September, would not have made a difference in the last three league matches. But it did not appear to hinder Barcelona initially, as the Azulgrana recorded an aggregate 21-2 scoreline in their next five games – which included Bayern Munich as well as Real. Similarly, Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi were at the heart of the defence as they dealt with better teams than they have faced recently.

It may be that Marc Casado, at 21, is now the key man for Barcelona. It was after his sending off Celta managed two late goals to draw last week and in this match, talented as they are, Pedri and Gavi gave no protection at all to the back four.

It would be easy to give the award to Las Palmas goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen who did play extremely well against his former side. However, if there was one player who did not deserve to be on the losing side it was Raphinha.

With a bit of luck he could have had a hat-trick today. After almost leaving in the summer, he could well be Barcelona’s player of the year with his play meriting comparison with countryman Rivaldo who possessed a similarly exquisite left foot and also carried a flawed side’s hopes on his back a quarter-century ago.

Barcelona: Inaki Pena 5; Kounde 5, Cubarsi 5, Inigo Martinez 6, Balde 6; Pedri 6, Gavi 5, Fermin Lopez 6; Pablo Torre 6, Raphinha 8*; Lewandowski 6.

Subs: Martinn 6, Yamal 6, Fort 6, Torres 6, Jong 6, Victor 7.

Las Palmas: Cillessen 8; Rozada 6, Alex Suarez 7, McKenna 7, Mika Marmol 6; Campana 6, Javi Munoz 8, Kirian Rodriguez 7; Sandro 7, Fabio Silva 8, Moleiro 7.

Subs: Gonzalez 6, Park 6, Loidice 6, Ramirez 6, Mata 6, McBurnie.

7′ FINE BALL FROM PABLO TORRE! He finds Fermin in the box who controls the ball perfectly and then drils a low shot which Cillessen saves well with his legs.

45+3′ OFF THE BAR! Raphinia’s effort has Cillessen beaten but it comes back off the woodwork.

49′ GOAL! BARCELONA 0-1 LAS PALMAS (SANDRO) On the break, Barcelona leave themselves horribly exposed and Sandro raced into the right hand side of the penalty area and slides an effort past the Barca keeper inside the far post.

61′ GOAL! BARCELONA (RAPHINIA) 1-1 LAS PALMAS A fine low drive from 25 yards from Barcelona’s captain for the day. He receives a short pass from Pedri and then seizes on a gap and let fly with an unstoppable effort.

67′ GOAL! BARCELONA 1-2 LAS PALMAS (FABIO SILVA) Unbelievable! Las Palmas in front again as a diagonal ball from the right back is taken in his stride by Fabio Silva who races forward and guides a shot on the bounce past Pena.

70′ GOOD STOP FROM CILLESSEN! Torres plays in Yamal who shoots towards the far post but the visiting keeper stretches out a right hand to push the effort away and crucially it flies wide of Lewandowski sniffing out a rebound.

82′ ANOTHER GREAT STOP FROM CILLESSEN! A marvellous free kick from Raphinia which was dropping under the crossbar but Cillessen stretches to his left and tips over the bar.