Stoppage time is Barca time! Gundogan scores late from spot for win against Las Palmas

Another must-win, another trauma, and - in the end - another late win for Barca! The Blaugrana have made a winning start to 2024 by clinching a late 2-1 victory over Las Palmas after coming from behind. Ilkay Gundogan's stoppage-time penalty saved the visitors and gave them another late triumph, which has slowly evolved into a habit for the Catalans.

However, it started in quite a different style for the visitors, as their poor defensive positioning allowed Sandro Ramirez to cross for Munir El Haddadi, and the former La Masia pupil fired into the back of the net to make it 1-0.

Xavi's team was perhaps even lucky only to concede that one before the interval, but things improved for them in the second half.

Around the 60th minute, Ferran Torres levelled the score with his accurate shot from the edge of the box.

Barca then pushed for a late winner and were rewarded with a deserved penalty. Ilkay Gundogan was pushed at the back post by one Las Palmas player. The same man, Gundogan, routinely netted from the spot and ensured a 2-1 win.

Barcelona are now seven points adrift of Real Madrid and Girona and three points ahead of Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid.

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 19

Tuesday

Getafe - Rayo Vallecano 0-2 (0-1)

/Camello 45+1, 47/

Real Sociedad - Alaves 1-1 (0-0)

/Zubimendi 90+6 - Rioja 76 pen/

Valencia - Villarreal 3-1 (2-0)

/Yaremchuk 4, Pepelu 27 pen, 57 pen - Moreno 73/

Wednesday

Granada - Cadiz 2-0 (1-0)

/Uzuni 22, Zaragoza 70/

Celta - Betis 2-1 (1-1)

/Iago Aspas 16 pen, Swedberg 90+6 - Ruibal 6/

Real Madrid - Mallorca 1-0 (0-0)

/Rudiger 77/

Girona - Atl. Madrid 4-3 (3-2)

/Fernandez 2, Savio 26, Blind 39, Martin 90+1 - Morata 14, 44, 54/

Thursday

Osasuna - Almeria 1-0 (1-0)

/Budimir 27/

Sevilla - Ath. Bilbao 0-2 (0-1)

/Vesga 30, Paredes 76/

Las Palmas - Barcelona 1-2 (1-0)

/El Hadaddi 12 - Torres 55, Gundogan 90+3 pen/