Lamine Yamal (R) of FC Barcelona shoots during the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
MADRID, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Las Palmas ruined FC Barcelona's 125th birthday celebrations and enjoyed a 2-1 win away to the La Liga leaders in Montjuic on Saturday.
Las Palmas has been greatly improved since the arrival of Diego Martinez as coach and had already shown its threat before Barca lost left-back Alejandro Balde, who had to be carried off midway through the first half after a collision.
Raphinha hit the bar for Barcelona on the stroke of halftime, but former Barca player Sandro Ramirez put Las Palmas ahead early in the second half with a low shot after finding plenty of space in attack.
Raphinha leveled for his side on the hour with a low left-foot drive from outside of the penalty area, but parity lasted just seven minutes, before Fabio Silva sprung the offside trap and beat Inaki Pena with a bouncing shot.
Barca went close on a couple of occasions, but Hansi Flick's side has now dropped eight points from a possible nine in La Liga ahead of next Wednesday's match against Mallorca.
Atletico Madrid temporarily sits second after a comfortable 5-0 win away to bottom of the table Valladolid.
Atletico took the lead after 26 minutes through a Clement Lenglet tap-in, and soon led 3-0 thanks to Julian Alvarez and Rodrigo de Paul.
The fourth goal came soon after the break when Alvarez teed up Antoine Griezmann in the 52nd minute and Alexander Sorloth made it 5-0 in injury time after a pass from Angel Correa.
Irvin Cardona and Leandro Cabrera helped Espanyol claim a vital 3-1 win at home to Celta Vigo to end a run of four consecutive defeats.
Iago Aspas got Celta back into the game with an 83rd minute penalty, but Walid Cheddira assured the points for Espanyol just four minutes later.
Carlos Vicente's 86th minute effort from the edge of the penalty area saved a point for Alaves at home to Leganes, who had looked to be on the verge of reaping the reward of another solid display after Oscar Rodriguez's close range header after Raba's run and cross had created the chance.
The weekend kicked off on Friday night with Mallorca beating Valencia 2-0 to keep the visitors in the relegation zone. ■
Robert Lewandowski (C) of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Pedri of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Jules Kounde of FC Barcelona shoots during the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Raphinha (R) of FC Barcelona competes during the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Players of UD Las Palmas celebrate a goal during the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Raphinha (R) of FC Barcelona vies with Alex Suarez of UD Las Palmas during the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Players of UD Las Palmas celebrate a goal during the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Robert Lewandowski (top L) of FC Barcelona heads the ball during the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Starting players of FC Barcelona line up before the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Players of UD Las Palmas celebrate after winning the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
Jules Kounde (L) of FC Barcelona vies with Alberto Moleiro of UD Las Palmas during the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 30, 2024. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)
