Barcelona continue their push for an outside chance at catching La Liga leaders Real Madrid as they host Las Palmas on Saturday.
Sitting second in the league standings eight points behind Los Blancos, Barca will know that an injury-riddled Real Madrid could theoretically slip at any moment, and only a near-perfect run-in over the last nine matches will give them a chance to mount a last-gasp comeback.
Xavi has himself been saddled with a host of injury issues to navigate all season long, but Frenkie de Jong could return soon and they navigated the international break without suffering any further damage. Still, the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Ilkay Gundogan could require rest in this match after logging significant minutes for their national team over the past week.
Las Palmas have surpassed expectations this season, holding a mid-table standing, but are winless over their last five league games, slumping to 11th. A 1-0 defeat to basement-dwellers Almeria last time out was a new low for the overall positive campaign, forced to simmer on that sour taste through the international break.
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Barcelona vs Las Palmas prediction, odds Moneyline lean: Barcelona (-350) Score prediction: Barcelona 1-0 Las PalmasLas Palmas have been defensive wizards across the campaign, helping them achieve a solid mid-table standing, but there's been cracks in the armor as the long season winds to a close. They coughed up five to Atletico Madrid in mid-February, and conceded three to Getafe in early March, two clubs they have previously held in check in their earlier meetings.
The visitors this weekend conceded two or more goals to an opponent just three times over the first 24 league games of the season — and they've matched that total across the last five games.
Barcelona create a ton of attacking volume, but struggle to have the quality necessary to go with it. It will be tough sledding for a Barcelona side that may require rest from the international break, but they'll find the breakthrough and manage to secure the three points at home.
Barcelona vs Las Palmas match facts Date: Saturday, Mar. 30, 2024 Kickoff time: 9 p.m. local (4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT) Location: Lluis Companys Olymipc Stadium (Barcelona, Spain) Last meeting: Las Palmas 1-2 Barcelona (Jan. 4, 2024 | La Liga) Barcelona vs Las Palmas best bet Pick: Under 2.5 total goals Odds: +160 (BetMGM)While Las Palmas have struggled to keep their defensive acuity going over the course of the full season, the value in this line is strong given they are still one of the best defensive sides in La Liga on the whole, and the line seems to be more based on reputation than real-life facts.
Barcelona needed a 93rd minute winner from Ilkay Gundogan at the penalty spot to see their way to three points in the previous meeting, as Barcelona generated just five shots on target. Las Palmas, meanwhile, were lucky to get a goal themselves in the early stages of the match as they weathered chance after chance.
With Barca's most prolific attacking players needing rest from the international break, and a Champions League quarterfinal to come in under two weeks, Xavi's side will have to work hard to find a breakthrough, and a low-scoring affair feels likely, especially at the extreme value shown on this line.
Barcelona vs Las Palmas prop bet Pick: Las Palmas 1H double chance Odds: +115 (DraftKings)With the odds so far swung in Barcelona's favour, it's possible that Las Palmas could hold out through the first 45 minutes of the match. Barcelona are one of the most lopsided clubs in Europe when it comes to disparity between halves, as they seem to sleep through the first 45 minutes before waking up after the break.
If Las Palmas get an early goal as they did in the reverse fixture, they'll sit back to protect that lead, but even if they don't score, this match reaching halftime scoreless is a solid possibility.
Barcelona vs Las Palmas live stream, TV channel TV channel Streaming USA ESPN Deportes Fubo USA, ESPN+, WatchESPN Canada — TSN+ UK Viaplay 1 LaLigaTV, Viaplay UKEvery match across the entirety of the 2023/24 La Liga season is available to stream in the United States on ESPN+, including this match between Barcelona and Las Palmas. Additionally, the match has been selected to be televised in Spanish on ESPN Deportes, which is accessible on Fubo, who are offering a FREE trial for new users.
In Canada, this match can be streamed exclusively on TSN+, while the game is accessible in the UK on both Viaplay's streaming platform as well as LaLigaTV.
