Barcelona's 125th anniversary celebrations stunned by Las Palmas

Las Palmas delivered a shocking blow to Barcelona's La Liga campaign, defeating the league leaders 2-1 on Saturday. The upset occurred during Barcelona's celebrations marking their 125th anniversary, leaving the hosts and their fans disheartened. Despite the festive atmosphere, Las Palmas played with determination and grit, spoiling what was meant to be a memorable evening for the Catalan giants. The loss, while unexpected, doesn't yet threaten Barcelona's top position in the league. They maintain a four-point lead over reigning champions Real Madrid. However, the situation is far from comfortable for the Blaugrana. Real Madrid, currently in third place, have two games in hand and could close the gap significantly. Atletico Madrid, also in the title race, are closely monitoring the developments.

Real Madrid will have the opportunity to capitalize on Barcelona’s slip-up when they host Getafe on Sunday. With two games to spare and a chance to climb the table, the weekend could dramatically alter the title race dynamics. Meanwhile, Barcelona will need to regroup quickly to avoid further stumbles and maintain their lead in what promises to be a tightly contested battle for La Liga supremacy. Las Palmas, on the other hand, celebrated a morale-boosting victory that showcased their potential to disrupt even the strongest teams in the league. The win will undoubtedly fuel their confidence as they aim to climb further up the table. For Barcelona, the shock defeat serves as a timely reminder of the challenges that lie ahead.

"We had a bad game, we have to look at what we're doing badly to try and improve and win games. I don't care about my goal, I care about winning, we didn't win and I'm not satisfied with the game," Raphinha told in an interview.

Barcelona celebrated their 125th anniversary in style but suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Las Palmas on a disappointing Saturday afternoon. As a tribute to their early history, Barcelona donned white shorts, a throwback to the club's formative years in 1899. The celebrations included a grand gala on Friday night, yet the festivities were overshadowed by the unexpected result.

Teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal returned to the squad, starting on the bench after recovering from an ankle injury. In the first half, Raphinha came closest to breaking the deadlock. The Brazilian had a goal ruled out for offside and later hit the crossbar with a powerful strike, following a clever assist from Gavi. Despite their efforts, Barcelona went into halftime unable to break through.

Manager Xavi introduced Yamal after the interval, seeking a spark in attack. However, it was Las Palmas who struck first. Kirian Rodriguez set up Ramirez, who delivered a clinical finish from the edge of the box. Barcelona quickly responded through Raphinha, whose thunderous long-range shot leveled the score. Yet, Las Palmas reclaimed the lead as Silva latched onto Munoz’s precise long ball and slotted it past Inaki Pena for his fifth goal in eight games. Former Barcelona goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen was pivotal for Las Palmas, making crucial saves to deny the hosts. Despite eight minutes of stoppage time, Barcelona couldn’t salvage the match, leaving their anniversary celebrations tarnished by a frustrating defeat.