(Football news) Starting in 2024, Barcelona is ranked fourth in the league, while its newly promoted rivals are ranked ninth. Las Palmas will be happy with their efforts in their first top-flight campaign since the 2017–18 season, even though they lost to Athletic Bilbao at the end of 2023. This will calm concerns about an early return to the second division.
Before matchday 19, Las Palmas is only three points behind the top seven in the league after winning seven, losing seven, and drawing four of their eighteen league games.
Despite having one of the lowest goal totals in the league (15 goals), they have shown themselves to be a formidable opponent, giving up just 15 goals in La Liga this year, a mark only surpassed by joint leaders Real Madrid.
In addition to having a potent defense, Las Palmas has a track record of winning at home, having dropped only one of their last eight league games at the Estadio de Gran Canaria.
Although Las Palmas has already defeated Atletico Madrid at home this season, they will need to defeat Barcelona for the first time since winning 1-0 in the first leg of a Copa del Rey tie in February 1991 if they are to win another game against a team in the top four on Thursday.
Barcelona may have been relieved to enjoy a little winter vacation after losing three of their final five La Liga games of 2023 (D2, L1).
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