Barcelona surged back to the top of the La Liga table following a tense match against Las Palmas, clinching a 2-0 victory on February 22, 2025. Substitutes Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres turned the tide in Barça's favor, with their timely goals breaking through Las Palmas' stubborn defense.
The match started off with Barcelona in control, holding 70% possession, yet they found it challenging to convert this dominance into clear scoring opportunities. Las Palmas, often seen as a defensive battleground, did not make it easy for the visiting side. In fact, it was Las Palmas who threatened first, with Sandro forcing a save from Wojciech Szczęsny.
Barcelona's patience paid off in the 62nd minute. Dani Olmo, who had been brought on at halftime by manager Hansi Flick, made a significant impact. Lamine Yamal delivered a clever pass, allowing Olmo to unleash a powerful strike that took a fortunate deflection off the crossbar and into the net, eventually breaking the deadlock.
As the match progressed, tension escalated. A key moment came in the 80th minute when Las Palmas appealed for a penalty following what they believed was a handball by Eric García. However, VAR intervened, ruling the incident out due to an offside call earlier in the play, keeping Barça’s lead intact.
As the match approached its conclusion, Ferran Torres sealed the victory in dramatic fashion. Capitalizing on a Las Palmas defensive mistake, he pounced on a well-placed assist from Raphinha in the 95th minute, ensuring the Catalan giants collected all three points and reclaimed the top spot in the league table.
This victory was crucial not only for the bragging rights at the summit of La Liga but also extended Barcelona’s unbeaten streak in away matches to an impressive ten games across all competitions. Manager Hansi Flick was full of praise for his team's perseverance, highlighting the tactical changes that proved crucial in overcoming Las Palmas' resolute defense.
With this win, Barcelona sits one point ahead of Atlético Madrid in the La Liga standings with 54 points. Real Madrid, trailing by a slim margin with a game in hand, remain a strong contender for the top positions. For Barcelona, this win solidifies their quest for the title, showcasing their depth and resilience when faced with challenging defensive setups.