Barcelona started Saturday's La Liga clash with Las Palmas five points behind Real Madrid at the top of the table.
The home side were dominant in the first period and entered the interval with a one-goal lead courtesy of a Luis Suarez goal in the 14th minute of action.
Lionel Messi doubled Barcelona's lead early in the second period, before Luis Suarez and Arda Turan made it three and then four within the space of two minutes.
Aleix Vidal then scored a late fifth for the home side, who returned to winning ways in impressive fashion.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from Camp Nou as the champions Barcelona welcome Las Palmas in what should be an entertaining game of football. Barcelona simply cannot afford to drop any more points in their pursuit of unbeaten leaders Real Madrid, but Las Palmas have impressed this season and certainly have the players to harm the home side. Stay tuned for the action!
Only three Las Palmas players (David Garcia, Momo and Javi Varas) were born the last time that the Yellows beat Barcelona in the league – a 3-0 home success in 1986. Barcelona have actually won 15 of their last 17 home league games against Las Palmas, although the Canary islanders have drawn on two of their last four league visits to this stadium – picking up a 1-1 in both 1988 and 2002.
Barcelona recorded a 2-1 victory when they welcomed Las Palmas to Camp Nou last season, however, before running out 2-1 winners in Gran Canaria. Both matches were tight last season and Las Palmas will be confident of causing an upset, especially with the champions showing inconsistent form in recent weeks. This is a really, really big football match for Barcelona.
Right, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Camp Nou. Both sides were in Copa del Rey action during the week – Barcelona beating Athletic Bilbao 3-1 in this stadium to advance from their last-16 tie, but Las Palmas went out of the competition on aggregate despite a very impressive 3-2 victory at Atletico Madrid. Let's run through the two XIs that will start this match...
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TEAMS!
BARCA: Ter Stegen; Vidal, Mascherano, Umtiti, Alba; Rafinha, Busquets, Gomes; Messi, Suarez, Turan
LAS PALMAS: Varas; Michel, D.Garcia, Lemos, Lopes; Mesa, V.Gomez; Viera, El Zhar, Tana; Boateng
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has shuffled his pack this afternoon, with Aleix Vidal, Samuel Umtiti, Rafinha, Andre Gomes and Arda Turan all handed starts against Las Palmas. Neymar and Andres Iniesta have both dropped to the bench, while Gerard Pique is left out of the squad altogether. Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi keep their spots, however, in addition to Sergio Busquets in the middle of midfield.
As for Las Palmas, Javi Varas, Nabil El-Zhar, Jonathan Viera, Mauricio Lemos and Kevin-Prince Boateng all return following the Copa del Rey clash with Atletico during the week. Roque Mesa is also back in the middle of midfield, but Marko Livaja, despite his brace against Atletico, is only on the bench. It appears that Boateng could play through the middle for the visitors this afternoon.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild afternoon in Barcelona. I shall speak about the away side and their impressive form a little bit later, but let's start with Barcelona, who, as mentioned, qualified for the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with a 3-1 win over Basque outfit Bilbao at Camp Nou on Wednesday night.
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Enrique's side might be safely through in both of their cup competitions this season, but they have a lot of work to do in the league. Indeed, the reigning champions are currently third in the table on 35 points – one point behind second-place Sevilla and five points behind the leaders Real Madrid, who still have a game in hand. If Los Blancos win that spare game, eight points is a serious gap to make up.
Barcelona have actually only won 10 of their 17 La Liga matches this season, which is their worst record at this stage of a campaign since 2007-08. They have only suffered two defeats, but five draws have seen them fall behind Real Madrid, who set a new Spanish unbeaten record on Thursday when they drew 3-3 with Sevilla in the Copa del Rey, surpassing Barcelona's 39-game unbeaten run.
The Catalan giants have actually drawn four of their last six in the league and they needed a wonderful Messi free kick to snatch a point in a 1-1 draw at Villarreal last weekend. That goal just about kept Barcelona's title hopes alive, but anything other than a win in this match would surely see them exit the race. Indeed, they are actually only five points clear of fifth-place Villarreal, who more than matched the champions last weekend. La Liga has been very competitive this season.
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In terms of what is ahead for Barcelona, they will travel to Eibar and Real Betis in their next two league games before the end of the month, before welcoming Bilbao to Camp Nou on February 4. Next month also sees the return of the Champions League and Enrique's side have the small matter of a two-legged affair with French champions Paris Saint-Germain, which should be a really cracking tie.
As for Las Palmas, the Yellows will enter this match off the back of a brilliant 3-2 win over Atletico on Tuesday night, but they still exited the Copa del Rey on aggregate. That success was an indication of their credentials and an impressive league campaign to date sees them occupy eighth position – recording six wins, six draws and suffering just five defeats in their accumulation of 24 points.
Only the top five have suffered fewer league defeats than Las Palmas this season and the Canary islanders are actually just three points off the top seven as things stand. They returned to La Liga last season after a 13-year absence and finished a very respectable 11th, which brought widespread praise for head coach Quique Setien. The Yellows are a lovely team to watch.
La expedición amarilla llega al feudo azulgrana, ¡#VamosUD!#BarçaLasPalmas pic.twitter.com/K6itOth0Zj — UD Las Palmas (@UDLP_Oficial) January 14, 2017
In terms of recent form, Las Palmas have won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five league matches. That run includes wins over Bilbao and Sporting Gijon, in addition to a 1-0 defeat at Atletico. They also held Real Madrid to a 2-2 draw in Gran Canaria earlier this season and only narrowly lost at Villarreal. Barcelona are the favourites here, but this could be a really tricky match for the hosts.
Las Palmas are one of only two teams – the other being Real Madrid – to still be unbeaten at home in La Liga this term. They have struggled on their travels, however, and after winning their first away game of the season against Valencia, the Yellows are now winless in seven consecutive away matches – suffering five defeats in the process. Right, kickoff at Camp Nou is now just around the corner!
Just a reminder of the two teams this afternoon...
BARCA: Ter Stegen; Vidal, Mascherano, Umtiti, Alba; Rafinha, Busquets, Gomes; Messi, Suarez, Turan
LAS PALMAS: Varas; Michel, D.Garcia, Lemos, Lopes; Mesa, V.Gomez; Viera, El Zhar, Tana; Boateng
KICKOFF! Barcelona kick things off on home soil...
... as expected, the home side have taken control of the possession in the early exchanges, with Umtiti and Mascherano exchanging passes at the back. Eventually the ball is switched to the left and direct running from Suarez forces the first corner of the match. Pressure on Las Palmas early on.
BOOKING! Mesa (Las Palmas) is booked for hauling Suarez to the deck.
Messi is standing over Barcelona's free kick just outside the Las Palmas box...
... this time Messi's effort is into the stands. Cannot score every time I suppose!
Las Palmas are struggling to get in the game at the moment as Barcelona continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field. You just get the feeling that the visitors need to get through the opening 10, 15 minutes without conceding if they are to stand a chance of a positive result here.
Just a reminder that Neymar and Iniesta are both on the bench for Barcelona this afternoon, while Gerard Pique has been rested altogether. On paper, the hosts still should have far too much for Las Palmas, but the in-form Yellows have some very dangerous players in forward positions.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes as a series of late challenges force the referee into action. Las Palmas, meanwhile, are just enjoying a little more of the ball.
Pass, pass, pass from Barcelona as they look for a route through the Las Palmas defence, but Lemos and Garcia have been solid in the two centre-back positions inside the opening 12 minutes of this match. Plenty of possession for the home side, but we are yet to see a clear chance here.
It must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium this afternoon. It is not the best football match at the moment, but the noise levels are high as the first period continues to gather pace. We are still waiting for the first shot on target with 14 minutes on the clock.
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Las Palmas (Suarez)
And there is the first goal! Barcelona take the lead in the 14th minute as Andre Gomes beats the Las Palmas offside trap and delivers a super ball into Luis Suarez, who smashes the ball home!
Another half-chance for the home side as Rafinha dances into the Las Palmas box and feeds a pass into Luis Suarez, but Lemos just about does enough to muscle the centre-forward off the ball.
Decent opening for the away side as El Zhar delivers a wonderful cross towards Boateng at the far post, but the number seven can only turn his effort wide of the post. It was far from an easy chance for the former AC Milan midfielder, but he almost did enough to test Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side as Messi dances past a whole host of challenges before feeding the ball into Rafinha, but his low effort is wide of the far post!
Mascherano appears to have a problem for Barcelona following a challenge with Boateng.
Mascherano returns to his feet and the Argentine is fit to resume proceedings here.
CHANCE! Another wonderful chance for the home side as Turan drives through the heart of the Las Palmas team before feeding Suarez, who delivers towards Gomes at the far post, but the midfielder cannot find a route past Varas. Super save from the goalkeeper there.
BOOKING! Rafinha (Barcelona) is booked for a pull on Viera.
Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and Barcelona are dominant in terms of possession and chances created, but they are yet to score the game's second goal. While it remains 1-0, Las Palmas will always be in with a chance of snatching something at Camp Nou.
BOOKING! Mascherano (Barcelona) is booked for a lunge on Viera.
CHANCE! Yet another chance for the home side and indeed Gomes, but the midfielder somehow fires wide of the post after being freed by Busquets inside the Las Palmas box!
BOOKING! Gomes (Barcelona) is booked for a foul on Boateng.
CHANCES! How is this game not 2-0?! A couple of super chances for Barcelona in quick succession, but Messi fires wide of the far post after initially failing to beat Varas when the Las Palmas goalkeeper had parried straight into the box. The visitors are living on the edge here.
LAS PALMAS SUB! Aythami replaces David Garcia, who looks injured.
Little under 10 minutes of the first period remaining and it has been a very entertaining game of football at Camp Nou. Just the one goal, but Barcelona really should be three or four ahead here.
CHANCE! Las Palmas work the ball into an advanced position and Viera is the player to pull the trigger, but his attempt was always clearing Barcelona's crossbar. Better though!
You fancy Las Palmas to continue to create chances this afternoon, but Barcelona seem intent on scoring a second goal and they could have had four or five in this first period. Luis Suarez again breaks forward for the home side before feeding Messi, but the centre-forward is flagged offside.
BOOKING! Lopes (Las Palmas) is booked for a lunge on Messi.
Messi stands over another free kick in a dangerous position...
... SAVE! Varas makes a super save to keep out Messi's free kick!
Las Palmas would not be able to complain if they were four or five goals behind at the interval. Instead, the visitors only trail 1-0 and are very much still in this football match. Andre Gomes should have had a hat-trick in this first period, while Messi has had some brilliant chances.
CHANCE! Oh my word! Messi breaks through into a one-on-one with Varas and the goalkeeper wins the battle! It is a wonderful save from the brilliant Varas once again!
HALF-TIME: Barcelona 1-0 Las Palmas
It is no exaggeration to say that Barcelona could be five or six goals ahead at the interval, but a sensational performance from Las Palmas goalkeeper Varas has kept the score down. The home side do lead, however, courtesy of a super finish from Suarez, who converted an Andre Gomes cross in the 14th minute. Somehow Las Palmas are still in this football match at the interval.
STATISTICS! Barcelona have dominated the possession with 59%, while they have had 12 attempts - five of which were on target. Las Palmas, meanwhile, have only managed two attempts and neither of those tested Ter Stegen. There have also been five yellow cards in a feisty first period!
BENCH WATCH! Neymar, Digne, Alcacer, Iniesta and Rakitic are among those on the Barcelona bench this afternoon and I suspect that we will see a couple of those in the second period. As for Las Palmas, Livaja, Momo and Montoro are all available, but the visitors have already been forced into a change at Camp Nou - Aythami replacing David Garcia, who seemingly picked up a knock.
RESTART! Las Palmas resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise at this stage of events. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind for the second period.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the early stages of the second half, although Barcelona are still very much in control of the possession as they seek a second goal here.
Half-chance for Messi as the Argentine runs away from Las Palmas' defence after a through pass from Suarez, but the attacker smashes the ball wide of the post. Still 1-0 at Camp Nou.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Las Palmas (Messi)
Barcelona finally have their second of the afternoon as Messi converts from close range after Varas had palmed a Rafinha cross straight into the path of the Argentine, who could not miss!
BOOKING! Boateng (Las Palmas) is booked for a flying handball!
GOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Las Palmas (Suarez)
Barcelona have their third of the match and Suarez has his second as the centre-forward curls one into the bottom corner after being picked out by Rafinha inside the away side's box.
GOAL! Barcelona 4-0 Las Palmas (Turan)
It is four for Barcelona as Turan converts from close range after Varas kept out Suarez's effort!
LAS PALMAS SUB! Mateo Garcia replaces Vicente Gomez for the away side.
BARCELONA SUB! Rakitic replaces Gomes for the home side.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the last few moments, but Barcelona are still searching for more goals as they continue to commit players forward. Las Palmas are in trouble.
SAVE! Varas keeps out a close-range header from Messi.
BARCELONA SUB! Alcacer replaces Luis Suarez for the home side.
Barcelona are moving to within two points of league leaders Real Madrid, but Los Blancos would have two games in hand. It was so important that the Catalan giants collected all the points this afternoon with a strong performance and that does appear to be the case bar a late comeback!
BARCELONA SUB! Mathieu steps off the bench to replace Busquets.
LAS PALMAS SUB! Livaja replaces El Zhar for the away side.
CHANCE! Boateng breaks through for the away side and only has the Barcelona goalkeeper to beat, but his effort is straight at Ter Stegen. He really should have scored there!
BOOKING! Livaja (Las Palmas) is booked for chopping Messi to the deck.
Messi's free kick is straight into the Las Palmas wall.
GOAL! Barcelona 5-0 (Vidal)
Barcelona have their fifth of the match as Vidal, who looked all set to leave the club this month, finishes into the bottom corner after being sent through by Alcacer. Five for the hosts!
It has been a very tough second period for the away side and if Barcelona had taken all of their first-half chances, this could well be a 7-0 or 8-0 game at this stage!
Las Palmas have the chance to threaten from a free kick in a wide position, but Mathieu is on hand to clear down-field as we enter the very final moments of this La Liga contest at Camp Nou.
Possession football from Barcelona as they keep the ball down Las Palmas' right. The visitors then look to break after Boateng wins the ball, but Vidal fouls the midfielder and a free kick is awarded.
FULL-TIME: Barcelona 5-0 Las Palmas
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period at Camp Nou to a close with Barcelona running out 5-0 winners over Las Palmas to move within two points of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. Los Blancos, however, now have two games in hand over the reigning champions. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the live action once again. Until next time!
