Dramatic Finish: Barcelona Secures Victory at Las Palmas with Late Gundogan Penalty
In a contentious LaLiga clash on Thursday, Barcelona secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against 10-man Las Palmas, with Ilkay Gundogan’s controversial stoppage-time penalty proving decisive.
Barcelona
Las Palmas took an early lead in the 12th minute when Sandro Ramirez, a former Barcelona midfielder, set up Munir El Haddadi for a close-range finish. The hosts dominated the first half, showcasing their offensive prowess.
Barcelona responded ten minutes into the second half, capitalizing on a defensive lapse. Sergi Roberto exploited the error to find Ferran Torres, who managed to beat Las Palmas goalkeeper Alvaro Valles with a scruffy finish, leveling the score.
Tensions escalated as the match approached its conclusion. In added time, Las Palmas defender Daley Sinkgraven received a red card for a push on Gundogan. The former Manchester City midfielder stepped up and successfully converted the resulting penalty, sealing Barcelona’s comeback win.
Las Palmas captain Kirian Rodriguez expressed frustration, hoping for a thorough review of the incident. He emphasized the desire for referees to have a minimal impact on matches, stressing the importance of players over officiating decisions.
Barcelona’s coach, Xavi, defended the penalty call, acknowledging the inherent tension in such high-stakes games. He supported the referee’s decision, emphasizing that the push on Gundogan warranted the penalty. The victory propelled Barcelona to third place in the LaLiga standings with 41 points, trailing leaders Real Madrid and Girona by seven points. Looking ahead, Barcelona faces Barbastro in the Copa del Rey on Sunday before competing in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals against Osasuna on Thursday.
