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The La Liga Champions prevailed in a tough tie against Las PalmasBarcelona wrapped up their preparations for the riveting Champions League tie against Arsenal in an unconvincing fashion as they prevailed 2-1 over a spirited Las Palmas side to extend their unbeaten run to 31 games.Luis Suarez and Neymar got among the goals and the Spanish champions provisionally opened up a 9 point gap at the top.The hosts got the game off on the front foot as their high pressing threw the visitors into a tizzy, but contrastingly, Barcelona were the first to find the breakthrough as Suarez latched on to Jordi Alba's cross into the far pot.Willian Jose' equaliser shortly after gave hopes to the relegation battling Yellows, but Neymar spoiled the Canarian party with a fierce strike from close range.As the Blaugrana limped to the win, we glance at the major talking points from Gran Canaria today.
#1 Las Palmas play to the gallery
Promoted side Las Palmas played their best game of the season as they gave the reigning European champions a run for their money. Treading the drop zone for most of the campaign, the Canaries today played like they were one of the top teams in the division and comprehensively put Barcelona to the sword.
The hosts flew out of the traps from the word go as their high pressing and full-throttle football left the visitors on the tenterhooks. Catalan goalkeeper Claudio Bravo especially had one his busiest outings in a Barcelona shirt as the Chilean was tested time and again and never given any breathing space.
The writing was on the wall for the Canary Islanders even before the ball was kicked, but they tried to tear the script apart with a belter of a performance, that although may not have won the game, but did win many hearts.
#2 Barcelona get lucky
Chinks have appeared on Barcelona’s armoury in the recent weeks. The likes of Celta Vigo and Sporting Gijon managed to give the mighty Catalans the jitters by trying to exploit their vulnerabilities at the back, but their quality saved their beacon.
Today again, they were shaky in defence while Las Palmas pressed, and were just lucky to avoid a defeat. The pace and agility of the home side meant that the visitors had to work their socks off.
Given the number of times Barca parted the Red Sea for Los Amarillos to create chances, the damage could have been greater.
Whether it was the upcoming game against Arsenal that they had set their sights on or were just sloppy, whatever the reason, the Blaugrana were almost beaten today. Fortunately, for them, it was only Las Palmas, and not Atletico or Real Madrid.
#3 Suarez frustrated
Barcelona talisman Luis Suarez extended his lead atop the scoring charts of La Liga with his blistering close-range effort as the goal now takes his tally for the season to 25 in 23 appearances. The Uruguayan has been firing at all cylinders right from the start, and today did not look like the day he would stop.
The 29-year old restored parity for the visitors with a clinical effort off Jordi Alba’s cross, but then came the twist in the tale. Thereafter, Suarez ran out of luck and missed not one or two, but instead, 4 good chances in the game.
He was denied by the woodwork once, and thrice by Las Palmas custodian Javi Varas, who put on a masterclass for the home side under the bar to deny him. The opening goal suggested another fruitful evening for the fleet-footed pitbull, but inexplicably, the omens just turned bad for Suarez as the game wore on.
#4 Jonathan Viera plays ducks and drakes
Las Palmas forward Jonathan Viera was handed 3 half-decent chances to turn the tide in his side’s favour, but couldn’t convert any of them as he lacked the cutting the edge in the final third to kill it off.
The home side's swift movements and some crisp attacking game meant that Barcelona were beaten at the back on numerous occasions, and Viera was on the receiving end of some great service by his colleagues but was also guilty of wasting them.
He failed to beat visiting goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, which otherwise, would have given an alluring look to the scoreline for the hosts.
#5 Arsenal should take note
Next in the fixture list for Barcelona are Premier League giants Arsenal, who await them at the Emirates for a mouth-watering Champions League clash.
The mood in the red half of North London had dampened after their disappointing draw to Hull City at home in FA Cup earlier in the day, but if the Gunners seriously aim to prevail at home against the holding European champions, then they must have surely watched Barca’s game today.
The Catalans appeared very porous at the rump. Arsenal should take note of this and devise a plan to exploit the deficiencies as they aim to upset the applecart.
