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Las Palmas
La Liga | Gameweek 19
Jan 4, 2024 at 8.30pm UK
Estadio de Gran Canaria
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Xavi: 'Vitor Roque must be given time to adapt'

Xavi: 'Vitor Roque must be given time to adapt'
© Reuters
Barcelona head coach Xavi calls for calm when it comes to new signing Vitor Roque, who could make his debut for the club against Las Palmas.

Barcelona head coach Xavi has called for calm when it comes to new signing Vitor Roque.

The 18-year-old's arrival at Camp Nou has now been confirmed, with his switch from Athletico Paranaense taking place six months earlier than had initially been agreed.

Roque has arrived at Barcelona off the back of scoring 28 goals and registering 11 assists in 81 appearances for Athletico Paranaense in all competitions.

The Catalan outfit are attempting to register his signing with La Liga in time for him to be involved in Thursday's contest with Las Palmas, and he has been named in the initial squad.

However, amid the excitement from the club's supporters, Xavi has said that Barcelona "will be cautious" when it comes to the teenager and insisted that he must be given time "to adapt".

"I'm counting on him, he's still to be registered, I guess it's a matter of hours. But I hope to have him in the squad," the head coach told reporters during Wednesday's pre-match press conference.

"We don't want to burden him with responsibility. He is very young, he has to adapt. He's doing well, he's eager and he's adapted very quickly to the group and to training. But we will be cautious."

Xavi also insisted that Roque can play in the same side as Robert Lewandowski, who has only managed nine goals for the Catalan giants thus far this season.

"Yes, Vitor and Lewy can adapt. There will be no problem for them to play together," he added.

Barcelona coach Xavi before the match on December 10, 2023© Reuters

Xavi also paid tribute to Las Palmas, with Garcia Pimienta's side impressing this season, sitting 10th in the La Liga table following their promotion from the Segunda Division last term.

"Along with Girona, I think they are one of the revelations of the season. Pimienta is a great coach, they are playing very well," he added.

"Their game is very similar to what we want, because of the attacking approach, the triangulation... I know him (Pimienta) well, we played together in the reserve team and I wish him all the best. It will be a fight for the ball. They're a tough opponent."

Barcelona are currently fourth in the La Liga table on 38 points, boasting a record of 11 wins, five draws and two defeats from their 18 league matches this season.

The Catalan side are seven points behind both leaders Real Madrid and second-placed Girona, but the gap could have widened by the time that the reigning champions take to the field on Thursday, with the top two both in action on Wednesday night.

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Draw
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Barcelona
65.9%
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Barcelona's Vitor Roque holds up a scarf during the unveiling on December 27, 2023
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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