Tension would be the proper word to describe the situation in Barcelona. There was tension between players and the coach, tension in the executive box due to the place at the table, tensions over Lewandowski’s poor scoring form…and last night, there was more tension put upon Barcelona by their rivals. Real Madrid and this season’s sensation Girona both won, leaving the current champion with 10 points less at the fourth place. So, you can imagine that the main word ahead of the game in Las Palmas is…tension. There can be no other result than a victory, but who will score goals?Xavi seeks a new Xavi: Six kids get to train with Barca’s first teamRobert Lewandowski is unrecognizable this season, with only eight goals in 16 games. Age takes its toll; at 35, he is not the goal scorer who is as fearsome and trembling as he was in Borussia Dortmund and Bayern. The Pole scored only one goal in the last eight matches, and he has been ‘fasting’ for four games already. Still, he will undoubtedly lead the line tonight. The unconvincing Raphinha and the solid Portuguese Joao Felix will join him in the attack. Xavi still can’t count on the first goalkeeper, the German Andre Ter Stegen, but Ignacy Peña replaced him perfectly. Gavi, Marcos Alonso, Inigo Martinez and Pedri are out due to injuries. But, there is more tension. Barca’s latest signing, Brazilian forward Vitor Roque arrived in Spain and came with the team to the Canary Islands. But, due to Barca’s chaotic situation, he was not officially presented to the media an fans, and he is not yet registered. And he doesn’t know if he will play at all. If he does, his major task will be to score goals because not only does Barca concede more goals than last season, but they are scoring fewer goals, too (5 goals after 62 shots).Why Vitor Roque is the man for the job in Fc Barcelona Credits: @pythaginboots ✍️pic.twitter.com/umvPgUryxs— 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 ⚽️ (@Samuel_Black_DE) January 1, 2024 The last competitive game for the Catalans was a (tense) home win against Almeria 3-2, but at halftime (1-1), Xavi had to raise the voice at his players in order to get them moving.”Screams? Tension, normal, it’s a locker room, we had a lot at stake and I thought it was appropriate to raise my voice a little, nothing more. From here on I think the team has reacted very well, very well, in the locker room we are a team, a big family” he explained afterwards.When your nickname is Messinho – it only makes sense that you play for BarcaBut the media continued to speak about this issue, even writing that he yelled at Lewandowski, which raised further tension at Camp Nou.”We have given too much importance to the fight in Almería. Lewa wasn’t a specific footballer, it was the entire team. If we lose this intensity of the match, he doesn’t give us any. I don’t like sending messages through the press. The group is above individuality, they know it, otherwise we will not go well” explained Xavi.LA LIGA – MATCHDAY 19TuesdayGetafe – 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/WednesdayGranada – 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/Thursday19.00: (1.75) Osasuna (3.70) Almeria (5.40)21.15: (3.20) Sevilla (3.45) Ath.Bilbao (2.35)23.30: (6.00) Las Palmas (4.00) Barcelona (1.57)***odds are subject to change***