In a dramatic La Liga match on Thursday night, FC Barcelona secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Las Palmas, with a penalty in stoppage time delivered by Ilkay Gundogan. This crucial win keeps Barcelona in the hunt for the league title, trailing leaders Real Madrid and Girona by seven points at the season’s midpoint.

Barcelona, enduring a season marked by inconsistency, faced a resilient mid-table Las Palmas. The first half saw Las Palmas dominate, missing several opportunities to take the lead, while Barcelona failed to register a single shot on target. The frustration was evident as Barcelona struggled to find their rhythm. Follow your favourite La Liga team with attractive La Liga odds from Nextbet. 

Ferran Torres, Barcelona’s forward, acknowledged the team’s struggles, emphasizing the importance of securing three points despite the challenging match. “We couldn’t get the timing right with the last pass in the first half,” he admitted.

The game’s turning point came with a controversial penalty awarded to Barcelona, leading to a decisive goal by Gundogan and a red card for Las Palmas’ Daley Sinkgraven. Las Palmas vehemently contested the decision, adding to the match’s high tension.

Munir El Haddadi, once a Barcelona player, initially put Las Palmas ahead in the 11th minute, only for Torres to equalize in the 55th. Despite their efforts, Las Palmas could not secure a win, extending their winless streak against Barcelona in the league to 15 matches.

Injuries and debuts also featured in the match, with Barcelona’s Joao Cancelo being replaced early due to an injury. Vitor Roque, the 18-year-old Brazilian sensation, made his much-anticipated debut but missed crucial chances late in the game.

This win was critical for Barcelona, especially following Xavi Hernández’s comments on the league’s competitiveness this season. “Girona’s victory came in the last second, Madrid needed a goal off a corner in the 80th, and we did it with a penalty in the final moments. We have what it takes to win the league, you have to respect the defending champions,” he stated.

Elsewhere in La Liga, Real Madrid maintained their lead with a 1-0 win over Mallorca, while Girona clinched a 4-3 victory against fifth-place Atletico Madrid.

In other matches, Sevilla’s woes continued with a 2-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao, highlighted by a post-match altercation involving veteran defender Sergio Ramos and a fan. Meanwhile, Osasuna edged past last-place Almeria with a 1-0 victory, leaving Almeria as the only team yet to win in the league this season.

As the second half of the season unfolds, the Spanish league promises more twists and turns, with Barcelona’s latest win adding to the intrigue of a closely contested title race. Get the latest updates from the La Liga only on Nextbet Sports.