Barcelona heads out for its first match of 2024 on Thursday, traveling to the Canary Islands to take on a Las Palmas team that has been difficult to beat at the Estadio Gran Canaria this season.
Bookmaker 10bet offers odds at 1.75 for both teams to score in the contest, with the odds at 1.95 for only one team to score or no scoring in the match.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: January 3rd, 6:30 P.M. (EST)
Las Palmas has played eight home games thus far, winning four and losing only one. Rayo Vallecano managed to grab all three points via a stoppage-time penalty in October. The collection of victories includes a 2-1 triumph over Atletico Madrid, which shows that Las Palmas can cause problems for even the biggest sides in La Liga.
The home success is built on an incredible defensive record. Garcia Pimienta’s side has conceded only five times at home so far, with three of the goals being scored after the 80th-minute mark. Barcelona will face a stubborn side that plays with confidence at home and doesn’t waste many chances.
The visitors will be desperate for a good opening to the new year. Xavi saw his men struggle throughout December, and sitting 10 points behind league leaders Real Madrid and Girona, there’s very little room for error left for Barcelona.
The team’s recent defensive displays have been a major worry for Xavi. Girona put four goals past Barcelona in the 16th round of fixtures, and bottom side Almeria erased a deficit twice as Barcelona closed out 2023 with a 3-2 home win. Things have turned messy at the back with Marc-Andre ter Stegen out of commission, and he won’t be ready to return on Thursday either.
Pedri and Gavi are also out for Barcelona, but new signing Vitor Roque could provide a boost for the Catalans. The 18-year-old is seen as one of the brightest stars of the future in world football, and he should be eager to show what he can do on the top level in Europe after having an outstanding year with Athletico Paranaense back home.
Vitor Roque has proved himself to be a good finisher, and he also boasts plenty of creativity, having added eight assists to 21 goals in 45 appearances last season. Barca has been lacking oomph up top, and having more attacking flair could make a major difference during the latter half of the season.
