After major reports suggested that the game was suspended amid Catalonian referendum clashes, the match went on eventually behind closed doors at the Camp Nou. Barcelona managed all three points in an oddly quiet atmosphere at the Camp Nou. Lionel Messi was the star of the game again as he finished two good opportunities after Sergio Busquets broke the deadlock after half-time. With the win, Barcelona maintained their hundred percent record this season. Below are Barcelona players rated from their win over Las Palmas.
Ter Stegen
Rating: 7/10
Ter Stegen didn’t have much to do between the sticks. He did quite well to get off the line and get to the ball on few occasions with Barcelona playing a high line defensively.
Sergi Roberto
Rating: 7.5/10
Roberto had an excellent game, making several important runs through wide areas. In the first half, when Las Palmas defended well through the middle, Barcelona were only able to maintain offensive pressure through the wide areas.
Gerard Pique
Rating: 6.5/10
Pique got some important headers to gain possession and also made an important block in the first half.
Javier Mascherano
Rating: 7.5/10
Mascherano made several important tackles and interceptions. Along with good offensive distribution, he also got forward on a number of occasions.
Jordi Alba
Rating: 7/10
Alba had a decent game and made some good runs on the overlap. Some of his crosses were really threatening too.
Aleix Vidal
Rating: 6/10
Vidal was quite underwhelming in the first half and was subbed off for Andres Iniesta in the beginning of the second half.
Sergio Busquets
Rating: 7.5/10
Busquets placed the header quite well for Barcelona’s first goal. He also made some important interceptions to disturb Las Palmas offensive flow.
Paulinho
Rating: 6.5/10
Paulinho too had an average game and missed an opportunity to head the ball home in the first half. He too was subbed off in the beginning of the second half by Ivan Rakitic.
Denis Suarez
Rating: 7.5/10
Suarez often drove the ball inwards from wide areas and also gave an excellent ball for Messi’s first goal.
Luis Suarez
Rating: 7.5/10
Although he failed to get on the scoresheet, his improvised passes added quite another dimension to Barcelona’s play. His through ball for Messi’s second goal was superb.
Lionel Messi
Rating: 9.5/10
After failing to score from two excellent freekicks, he scored two really good goals from open play. For the first goal, he rounded past the keeper and finished it off while for the second goal, he made an excellent run and slotted in calmly. Also, his cross from the corner for Busquets’ goal was pin-point.
Substitutes
Ivan Rakitic
Rating: 7.5/10
Rakitic’s introduction put Barcelona on the front foot again with his intelligent through balls and his improvised passes.
Andres Iniesta
Rating: 7/10
It was quite apparent that Iniesta wasn’t really fit for the game and often remained upfield which diluted his usual influence that he has on the game.
Andre Gomes
Rating: N/A
Gomes played too little to warrant a rating.
