((WATCH>>STREAMS!)) Barcelona vs Las Palmas Live Free Online Broadcast 4 January 2024
Barcelona vs Las Palmas live stream: How to watch Spanish LALIGA game online. Defending La Liga champions Barcelona return from the mid-season break with a trip to Las Palmas on January 4.
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Barcelona picked up a win on December 20 against UD Almeria by a final score of 3-2. Barcelona took 18 more shots in the match, 28 to 10. Barcelona got two of its goals from Sergi Roberto in that match versus UD Almeria.
In its last outing on December 20, UD Las Palmas suffered a 1-0 road loss by Athletic Bilbao, and put up nine fewer shots than Athletic Bilbao. Munir El Haddadi led UD Las Palmas with three shots in the club’s scoreless effort.
How to watch UD Las Palmas vs. FC Barcelona
When: Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 3:30 PM ET
Where: Gran Canaria
Live Stream: ESPN+
Xavi's charges are playing catch up in their title defence so far this season as they trail rivals Real Madrid and Girona at the halfway stage in 2023/24.
However, the pressure will be stepped up in January, as Barcelona begin their Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercopa campaigns in the coming weeks.
After an up-and-down finish to 2023, Barcelona aim to start the new year on a high when they face Las Palmas on Thursday. Barcelona enter the matchup in fourth place, 10 points behind current La Liga leaders Real Madrid. The reigning champions have a ways to go before they can catch up to first place but have the chance to leapfrog third place Atletico Madrid with a point after their loss to Girona on Wednesday.
Barcelona finished 2023 on a rocky note and picked up just two wins in their last five games of the year. That stretch of games included a notable 2-0 win over Atleti as well as a 4-2 loss to second place Girona, and though the results differed, one trait has been a constant this season for Xavi's team -- a habit of being wasteful in attack. On their best days, Barcelona are able to notch a vast number of shots but struggle frequently to put them on target or even register quality strikes, which has seen them squander opportunities both in La Liga play and the Champions League.
Minus the notable absences who picked up long-term injuries several weeks ago like Gavi and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Barcelona will have many of their mainstays available to begin 2024. That includes Sergi Roberto and Joao Felix, each of whom have scored twice in the team's last five, as well as star forward Robert Lewandowski. The defensive effort will be just as important against Las Palmas since Barcelona have just one clean sheet in their last five matches and have conceded 10 goals during that stretch.
Despite their problems, Barcelona have all the pieces in place to pick a routine victory over Las Palmas. The hosts have scored just 15 times in 18 games so do not pose the biggest attacking threat, and La Liga's reigning champions have enough going up top to give themselves an advantage. Pick: Las Palmas 0, Barcelona 2
Las Palmas' injury picture remains largely unchanged with key midfielder Alberto Moleiro ruled out alongside Fabio Gonzalez and Vitolo. Spain star Pedri will not be fit in time to face his former team with veteran defender Marcos Alonso sidelined after undergoing back surgery.
Las Palmas ended 2023 with a mixed run of form but they are unbeaten at home in La Liga since October. However, the focus will be on Barcelona starting the New Year strongly as Xavi cannot afford to lose any further ground in the title race.
Nothing came easy to Xavi's side during the first half of 2023-24, and they barely got over the line against bottom-of-the-table Almeria to round off the year. Despite that triumph, the La Liga holders trail this season's pace-setters Real Madrid and Girona.
Thursday's bout is one Xavi won't be looking forward to. Las Palmas are stubborn opponents, with their success built off the second-best defensive record in the division. They've conceded just 15 goals this term - but have scored only 15 themselves.
Pedri suffered yet another injury setback before Christmas and is set to be out until mid-January with a muscle problem. His status for the Spanish Super Cup is in doubt.
Marcos Alonso has undergone back surgery and is set for a couple of months on the sidelines. Inaki Pena will remain in goal with Marc-Andre ter Stegen still sidelined.
Las Palmas are not a side that set out to merely contain. They like to control the contest with the ball - only Barcelona and Real Madrid average a large share of possession this season.
Their excellent defensive record is a testament to goalkeeper Alvaro Valles, and they've already overcome Atletico Madrid on home soil this term. The island outfit have conceded more than a single goal just once all season and Thursday's game will likely be decided by the finest of margins.