Barcelona host mid-table Las Palmas in La Liga on Saturday night knowing they need a flawless record if they are to catch Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Xavi’s side have improved since it was confirmed the manager would leave the club at the end of the season but the distance between them and Madrid is still eight points despite winning four of their last five league games.

Las Palmas are having a solid campaign and currently sit in 11th place, only five points off seventh. 2023/24 will likely go down as a success but they are without a win in five matches and in danger of seeing their season fizzle out.

Here’s 90min’s preview of Barcelona vs Las Palmas.

Barca are in decent touch but still have a number of important players sidelined.

Xavi is missing Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Gavi and Alejandro Balde, while Andreas Christensen also won’t be fit in time to feature. Robert Lewandowski should pull through to play despite picking up a knock in action for Poland.

Joao Cancelo got the all-clear after tests for a heart problem and should start.

Barcelona predicted lineup vs Las Palmas (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Cancelo; Lopez, Gundogan, Roberto; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Felix.

Las Palmas will be able to count on Saul Coco again after he served his suspension during the loss to Almeria.

Daley Sinkgraven and Cristian Herrera aren’t available due to injury, while Julian Araujo also isn’t fit enough to face his parent club. Two former Barca players in Munir El Haddadi and Sandro Ramirez are expected to start the game.

Las Palmas predicted lineup vs Barcelona (4-5-1): Valles; A Suarez, Coco, Marmol, S Cardona; El Haddadi, Munoz, Perrone, K Rodriguez, Moleiro; Sandro.

While it still seems highly unlikely for Barca to catch Real Madrid, they are enjoying a strong end to the season and their good form will only be a positive when the Champions League quarter-finals arrive in April.

This is a game Barca might have dropped points in earlier in the campaign when they were in panic mode but Xavi has calmed the ship and, taking Las Palmas’ poor run of late into account, the Catalan giants should manage three points comfortably enough on Saturday night.