Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Marc Bartra, Adriano (Gumbau 91’); Rakitic, Busquets, Mascherano; Messi (Munir 09‘, Sandro 80’), Luis Suárez, Neymar. 4-3-3.
Las Palmas: Javi Varas; David Simón, Alcaraz, Aythami Artiles, Bigas, Dani Castellano; Roque Mesa (Valerón 68’), Hernán (Culio 57‘), Wakaso; Jonathan Viera, Araujo (El Zhar 67‘). 5-3-2.
Goals:
1-0. 24. Suárez. Got above markers to head Sergi Roberto cross past Javi Varas.
2-0. 53. Suárez. Turned shot inside post after Busquets stepped over Munir pass.
2-1. 88. Jonathan Viera. Shot from left of area which deflected in off Piqué.
Yellow cards: Hernán 36’, David Simón 56’, Wakaso 58’, Alcaraz 66’, Mascherano 79’, Luis Suárez 92’.
Barcelona took advantage of slips by Real Madrid and Celta to move back up to second after they beat Las Palmas 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. There was an early blow for Luis Enrique though, Messi limping off in the tenth minute with a serious knee ligament injury after a clash with Bigas which will keep him out for up to two months. However Luis Suárez stepped in to head in a Sergi Roberto cross midway through the first half, and some ten minutes after the restart the Uruguayan striker made it two after Busquets stepped over a centre from substitute Munir. A few minutes later the Catalans were awarded a penalty after a Suárez shot hit Alcaraz on the arm, but Neymar blasted the resulting spot kick over the bar, and with two minutes to go Jonathan Viera set up a nervous last few minutes for the home fans when his shot deflected off Piqué to wrong-foot Ter Stegen and enter the net.