FC Barcelona are still on a roll: the Catalans picked up their fifth consecutive win on Saturday night in Gran Canaria. Substitute Dani Olmo gave coach Hansi Flick an early birthday present.
FC Barcelona had two clear objectives on Saturday evening in Gran Canaria: to consolidate first place and give coach Hansi Flick an early birthday present. The former German national coach celebrates his 60th birthday on Monday – and definitely wanted to celebrate it as the league leader. A plan that should work out.
The 31,000 spectators saw a fast-paced start to the game: Barcelona had the first big chance, but Fermin’s inaccurate cross to Lewandowski himself ruined it (4th minute), before Scotland international striker McBurnie tested keeper Szczesny (14th minute). On the subsequent corner, Las Palmas center-back Marmol shot just centimeters wide from the turn.
It was an open exchange of blows overall, which Las Palmas took. Moleiro got the better of Koundé and flicked just wide in the 25th minute. The visitors found it increasingly difficult to play offensively as the game went on. Lamine Yamal invited a shot on chance, but his curling shot whizzed past on the right (32′).
Flick has a knack for the big moment
Flick reacted at half-time and brought Dani Olmo on for the unremarkable Fermin. Olmo would go on to play a crucial role. Initially, however, there was a lack of spirit and ideas. Las Palmas compacted cleverly. It needed pace and drive in the final third.
Dani Olmo therefore set up a one-two with Lamine Yamal – and then shot the ball under the crossbar with his left foot to make the relieving 1-0 (62′). It was the first La Liga goal for the Spanish European champion since the beginning of November, when he even scored twice in the city derby against Espanyol (3-1).
In the final phase, only a multi-minute VAR deployment caused excitement. But because this ultimately resulted in an offside position for the hosts, it went into the eight-minute stoppage time with the score at 1-0. In this, the Blaugrana cleverly kept the opponent away from their own goal and made the decision themselves: Raphinha served Ferran Torres – another Flick substitute – who thundered the ball under the crossbar for the final score (90.+5).
For leaders Barcelona, the Copa del Rey semi-final against Atletico continues on Tuesday, followed by the home game in the league against Real Sociedad and the second leg of the last 16 in the Champions League against Benfica.
