Las Palmas vs Barcelona predictions for Thursday’s La Liga clash. Barcelona faces a challenging trip to the Canary Islands to take on defensively solid Las Palmas. Will they start the new year with a win? Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
La Liga | Gameweek 19 — Jan 4, 2024 at 8:30pm UK at Las Palmas
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Las Palmas vs Barcelona Predictions
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Barcelona’s Balancing Act: Quest for Points Against Las Palmas’ Solid Defence
Key Stats
– Barcelona is yet to lose an away league game this season.
– Las Palmas have lost just one of their eight home league matches.
Barcelona, looking to rejuvenate their La Liga campaign, face a tricky encounter against a defensively robust Las Palmas at Estadio de Gran Canaria. This match-up presents an intriguing battle of styles, with Barcelona’s flair coming up against Las Palmas’ resilience.
Las Palmas: Defensive Fortitude
Las Palmas, impressively positioned in the league, owe much of their success to a stingy defence that has conceded just 15 goals. Their ability to frustrate top teams, including a victory over Atletico Madrid, is testament to their tactical discipline. However, their low goal-scoring tally could be a concern against a side of Barcelona’s calibre.
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Barcelona: Seeking Consistency
Barcelona enters 2024 aiming to close the gap on league leaders. Despite their formidable away record, a series of draws indicates a struggle to convert dominance into victories. The absence of key players like Pedri and ter Stegen adds to their challenge, requiring others to step up.
Tactical Battles and Key Duels
The midfield battle could be crucial, with Barcelona likely to control possession but facing a Las Palmas side adept at disrupting play. Las Palmas’ Alex Suarez against Barcelona’s Raphinha could be a key duel, determining the effectiveness of Barcelona’s wide play.
Improvement Suggestions and Strategy Analysis
- Las Palmas: Need more creativity in attack to capitalize on Barcelona’s occasional defensive lapses.
- Barcelona: Must find ways to break down deep-lying defences, possibly by increasing tempo in the final third.
Managerial Matchup
Xavi Hernandez, known for his possession-based approach, faces a tactical test against Las Palmas’ disciplined setup. His counterpart, meanwhile, needs to devise a strategy that can exploit Barcelona’s vulnerabilities without compromising their defensive solidity.
Statistical Insights
- Las Palmas has a solid home record but lacks goal-scoring prowess.
- Barcelona, while unbeaten away, has drawn half of their away matches.
Expected Lineups and Commentary
Las Palmas’ Lineup:
- Valles; Suarez, Coco, Marmol, Cardona; Munoz, Perrone, Rodriguez; Park, Munir, Sandro
Commentary: Las Palmas will rely on their robust defensive structure, looking to exploit Barcelona on the counter.
Barcelona’s Lineup:
- Pena; Cancelo, Araujo, Kounde, Balde; Roberto, De Jong, Gundogan; Raphinha, Torres, Lewandowski
Commentary: Barcelona’s lineup, despite missing key players, boasts quality, particularly in attack, aiming to dominate possession and create chances.
Predictions
- Match Outcome: Draw Given Barcelona’s recent inconsistencies and Las Palmas’ solid home record, a draw seems a likely outcome. Barcelona’s attacking prowess meets Las Palmas’ defensive resilience, setting the stage for a closely contested match.
- Correct Score: 1-1 A low-scoring draw, possibly 1-1, is plausible, considering Las Palmas’ defensive record and Barcelona’s recent struggles to break down resolute defences.
- Goalscorer Prediction: Robert Lewandowski Lewandowski’s proven goal-scoring ability makes him a likely candidate to find the net. Despite Las Palmas’ strong defence, his quality could be the difference.
- First Half Result: Level Expect a cagey first half with both teams likely to be level at the break. Barcelona’s patient build-up play and Las Palmas’ defensive setup could result in a goalless first half.
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