Barcelona Snatch Dramatic Late Victory Over Las Palmas With Controversial Penalty

Drama Unfolds as Barcelona Clinch 2-1 Win Against Las Palmas

If you thought LaLiga was getting predictable, Barcelona and Las Palmas just proved you wrong. January 4, 2024, brought another wild ride for Barça fans, as Xavi’s squad snatched all three points in dramatic fashion on Gran Canaria—with a penalty right at the death sending waves of celebration and anger in equal measure.

Early on, it looked like the night might belong to the home side. Just 12 minutes after kickoff, Las Palmas shocked the visitors when Munir El Haddadi—who knows the Camp Nou inside out—slipped free in the box. Sandro Ramirez spotted him with a low pass, and Munir coolly slotted the ball past Iñaki Peña. Suddenly, Barcelona were trailing in a match they’d dominated on paper but not in practice.

The rest of the first half was a frustrating watch for any blaugrana fan. Barcelona kept the ball and zipped it around, but Las Palmas weren’t budging. Kirian Rodríguez marshaled the midfield, and Emir Álvarez made life a nightmare for Barcelona’s attack. Every shot was blocked, and every run met a yellow-shirted wall.

Barça finally cracked the Las Palmas code ten minutes after halftime. Sergi Roberto darted to the byline and swung in a low cross, which somehow bounced through a sea of legs before Ferran Torres bundled it over the line. It wasn't pretty, but the away section didn't care—they were level, and there was hope they could turn the match around.

Last-Minute Chaos: Red Card and Penalty Decide Fate

Las Palmas did not back down. They managed quick counters that had Barcelona's defense scrambling, and Munir nearly doubled his tally with a header that scraped the bar. But nerves started to fray as the clock ticked towards 90, with tempers boiling on both sides. Scrappy fouls crept in as both teams sensed something big was coming.

That ‘big moment’ arrived in stoppage time. Ilkay Gündogan burst into the Las Palmas box, only for Daley Sinkgraven to shove him from behind. Referee Juan Martínez Munuera didn’t hesitate—straight red for Sinkgraven, and penalty to Barcelona. The home bench exploded in protest, and even fans in the stands could hardly believe it.

Ilkay Gündogan, ice in his veins, faced Alvaro Valles and sent him the wrong way from 12 yards. The away end erupted as the scoreboard flipped: 2-1 Barcelona in the 93rd minute. The comeback was complete, but with it came controversy and bitterness.

After the final whistle, Las Palmas captain Kirian Rodríguez didn’t mince words about the officiating. He argued that referees should “appear as little as possible” and let players decide the match. His frustration went viral in post-match clips, with many fans echoing his sentiments online. Still, the history books only show the result.

For Barcelona, this wasn’t just any win. With Real Madrid breathing down their neck and points slipping away in recent matches, snatching a victory like this keeps them right where they want to be—in the thick of the LaLiga title race. But for Las Palmas, the night left a bad taste, and questions about refereeing’s influence on big matches will linger.