- The Las Palmas vs Barcelona clash will kick off on Thursday at 21:30 CET.
- Las Palmas are 10th on the log on 25 points.
- Barcelona are 4th on 38 points.
La Liga defending champions FC Barcelona are set to lock horns with Las Palmas in their first match of 2024 on Thursday night, January 4.
The Xavi Hernandez-coached side will be aiming to pick up maximum points as they chase favorites Girona and Real Madrid in what starts to appear as a two-horse title race.
Barcelona currently sit fourth in the table standings with 38 points, 10 less than the two mentioned clubs who won their matches on Wednesday.
League leaders Real Madrid narrowly beat minnows Mallorca 1-0 to maintain their position at the top of the standings on goal difference while a promising Girona side hammered Atletico Madrid 4-3 in an epic clash.
Alvaro Morata scored a hat-trick for Atletico with Daley Blind, Valery Fernandez, Ivan Martin and Brazilian teenager Sávio Moreira de Oliveira finding the back of the net for the hosts.
Las Palmas on the other hand go into the match on the back of a two-game winless run in the topflight league.
The club which sits 10th with 25 points has already picked up several wins against top sides including Atletico Madrid at their Estadio de Gran Canaria this season, hence they go into the match with their heads held high up.
What time does Las Palmas vs Barcelona start?
The match is expected to kick off at 21:30 PM Central European time at Estadio de Gran Canaria.
Las Palmas vs Barcelona Team News
The visitors are expected to miss the services of former Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso, Pedri, Inigo Martinez, and number one goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Another key absentee for the multiple champions is Spanish wonder kid Gavi, who continues to nurse a anterior cruciate ligament injury he picked up in November while on international duty.
Xavi is expected to go with the attacking trio of Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres and Raphina with Frenkie de Jong and İlkay Gündoğan supporting them from the midfield.
Unlike Barcelona, most of Las Palmas players with the exception of Alvaro Lemos are in contention to play a role in the match.
Mexican ace Julian Araujo, who is on loan from FC Barcelona, will sit this one out with Alex Suarez expected to replace him.
Possible Starting Lineups
Las Palmas: Vallés, Cardona, Mármol, Suárez, Coco, Muñoz, Loiodice, Rodríguez, Munir, Park, Pejino
Barcelona: Peña, Balde, Kounde, Cancelo, Araujo, Roberto, Gündogan, De Jong, Torres, Raphinha, Lewandowski
Las Palmas vs Barcelona Head-to-head
FC Barcelona and Las Palmas have battled it out 10 times since 2000 in all competitions with the latter failing to pick up a victory. Seven of those matches ended in favor of the Catalan club.
The two clubs drew 1 – 1 in their most recent match which was played in March 2018 at Estadio de Gran Canaria with Lionel Messi and Jonathan Calleri scoring the goals.
Las Palmas: 0
Draws: 3
Barcelona: 7
Las Palmas vs Barcelona Current Form
Las Palmas: WWWDL
Barcelona: LLDWL
Las Palmas vs Barcelona Prediction
Although Las Palmas has one of the best defensive records in La Liga this season, they are expected to struggle against a strong FC Barcelona side.
Xavi will also be seeking to start the year in a positive way, having struggled in December with any further slip ups in the second-half of the season having the potential of putting his job at risk.
Therefore, the match is highly touted to end in favour of the visitors, with a couple of goals being scored.