Las Palmas - Barcelona live online: score, stats and updates, LaLiga 2023-24

Former Barcelona attackers Munir and Sandro line up for Las Palmas

It's probably not too controversial to say neither Munir (2011-2018) nor Sandro Ramírez (2009-2016) pulled up any trees at Barcelona after coming through the youth academy. The pair scored 19 goals (17 from Munir) for the Catalans between them and will have the chance to prove a point to their former employers today. 

Las Palmas team to play Barcelona: Munir and Sandro face former club

Moleiro is fit to play for Las Palmas, with there are a couple of familiar names in there for Barça fans (at the end)!

Valles; Suárez, Coco, Mármol, Cardona; Kirian, Muñoz, Perrone, Moleiro, Munir; Sandro. 

Barcelona team to play Las Palmas: Vitor Roque on the bench

Barça's team has been picked...and Vitor Roque starts on the bench! 

Peña; Cancelo, Koundé, Araújo, Balde; Roberto, De Jong, Gündogan; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Torres. 

Pedri's injury issues continue

Pedri has been struggling with injuries for the best part of three seasons now. He picked up a hamstring injury after the second LaLiga Game of the campaign in August, which kept him on the sidelines until the start of November. After just nine appearances, Pedri broke down once again before the Christmas break, missing the last comPetition match of 2023 against Almería, as well as the friendly against Club América in Dallas, because of more muscle problems. As it stands, the Canary Islanders has played in only 11 of Barcelona’s 24 matches in all comPetitions this term.

This week, the 21-year-old revealed he had made changes to his diet and had started doing Pilates in an effort to get past his injury problems once and for all. No date has been set for the youngster’s return, but “it will be soon,” he says.

Early Barcelona team news: Pedri, Gavi and ter Stegen among absentees

We've established Barcelona could do with getting 2024 off to a good start, but they'll have to do so without first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, as well as key midfield duo Pedriand Gavi. Defenders Iñigo Martínez, a semi-regular presence at the back, and Marcos Alonso, who hasn't featured much this season, are also sidelined. 

Why isn't Mexico defender Julián Araújo playing for Las Palmas against Barça?

California-born Mexico international Julián Araújo joined Barcelona from LA Galaxy at the start of 2023 and was shipped out on loan to Las Palmas for the 2023-24 season. He's impressed his parent club with his performances for his loan team, to the extent that they've banned him from playing against them!

The good old "cláusula del miedo" ("the fear clause") is alive and well in Spain. Ronald will be the only Araújo in this one. 

Early Las Palmas team news

Midfielder Fabio González and defender Álvaro Lemos aren't expected to play due to ankle injuries, while winger Alberto Moleiro is a doubt due to a shoulder issue.  

LALIGA

Real Madrid - Mallorca summary: score, goals, highlights, LaLiga 2023-24

In case you missed it yesterday, Real Madrid did what Real Madrid do and won despite not being particularly impressive against Mallorca, who will feel they should've picked up a point at the Bernabéu. Antonio Rüdiger's second-half header settled it and Los Blancos are LaLiga's "winter champions" (i.e. top at the halfway point) ahead of surprise package Girona, who defeated Atlético Madrid in a seven-goal thriller in the last minute. 

As a result, Barça find themselves 10 points behind the top two with a game in hand. The pressure is well and truly on!

How the LaLiga table looks: Barcelona

Ah, things were all looking so rosy for Barcelona early in the season. Then came a series of injuries, a late Clásico collapse against Real Madrid and dropped points against Rayo Vallecano, Girona and Valencia, which have left Xavi Hernández's men with serious work to do if they are to have any chance of defending the title they won last season.

It's the first Game of 2024 and I'm going to stick my neck out (a bit) and say they already can't afford to slip up. 

How the LaLiga table looks: Las Palmas

It couldn't have been more of a mixed bag for Las Palmas so far, with seven wins, four draws and seven defeats from 18 matches leaving them smack bang in the middle of the LaLiga standings. The Canary Islanders, back in the top flight after five years away, often depend on their home form to keep them out of trouble and they've lost only once on their own patch so far, with a 2-1 win over Atlético Madrid their most impressive result on the island this season (they also won at Villarreal in October). 

What time does Las Palmas - Barcelona kick off?

We’ll all have to wait just a little though, as the clash in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria gets underway at 8:30 p.m. local time, which is 3:30 p.m. ET and 12:30 p.m. PT. Let’s hope you managed to get some extended time off over New Year (HNY, by the way!).

Over the next 90 minutes or so I’ll be bringing you build-up, team news and plenty more. Let's do this!

Hello and welcome to Las Palmas - Barcelona!

Will a new year signal an upturn in fortunes for Barcelona? Head coach Xavi Hernández will certainly hope so after seeing his team stumble over the line at the end of 2023. Barça are coming back refreshed after a two-week break and have got a shiny new toy for Christmas in the form of Brazilian striker Vitor Roque, who could make his debut today against mid-table Las Palmas. There's been a lot of hype surrounding him...no pressure, young man. 

I'm Roddy and thanks for joining me as Gran Canaria sees its first LaLiga action of 2024!