Mar 1, 2018 at 8pm UK at ​Estadio de Gran Canaria (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria)
Las PalmasLas Palmas
0-0
Barcelona
Calleri (48' pen.)
Aguirregaray Guruceaga (5'), Castellano (10'), Navarro (20'), Etebo (67'), Galvez (68'), Calleri (90')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Messi (21')
Digne (24'), Roberto (41'), Umtiti (52')

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde questions La Liga scheduling

Valverde questions La Liga scheduling
© SilverHub
Ernesto Valverde insists that Barcelona's title hopes are being damaged by the fixture list, as his side travel to Las Palmas three days before hosting Atletico Madrid.

Ernesto Valverde has questioned why Barcelona are being made to play away to Las Palmas on a Thursday evening, three days before taking on Atletico Madrid.

The Catalan giants face a huge showdown with second-placed Atleti at Camp Nou on Sunday, knowing that defeat would open up the La Liga title race.

First comes a trip to the Canary Islands, however, and Valverde is unsure why exactly his side are being made to play so late in the week.

Asked at his pre-match presser if the fixture list is damaging his side, the 54-year-old said: "Yes, this week. Each team has moments throughout the season in which there's less time between matches to rest.

"There are a lot of questions and reasons why the schedule is the way it is. Normally when two teams have a day free they normally play that day. We have a long trip, it's not Atletico's fault.

"A lot of time they play on Thursday because of the Europa League and then they have to play Sunday. I've been there. There's nothing you can do, they're different competitions. Considering the importance of Sunday's game, it's something to think about. We just have to play the game."

Atletico, who face Leganes at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday evening, currently trail Barcelona by seven points at the top of the La Liga standings.

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Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in action during his side's Champions League clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on November 1, 2016
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona27216069125769
2Atletico MadridAtletico27178241122959
3Real Madrid27166565293654
4Valencia27165652302253
5Sevilla27143103640-445
6Villarreal2712693631542
7GironaGirona2711793836240
8EibarEibar27107103339-637
9Real Betis27114124352-937
10Getafe279993325836
11Celta Vigo26105114338535
12Leganes2797112328-534
13Real Sociedad2796124948133
14Athletic Bilbao2771192731-432
15Espanyol2771192433-932
16AlavesAlaves2792162339-1629
17Levante27313112241-1922
18Las PalmasLas Palmas2655161852-3420
19Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo2747162557-3219
20Malaga2734201643-2713
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