In a stunning display, former Rangers forward Fabio Silva became the unexpected hero for Las Palmas, scoring the decisive goal in their 2-1 victory over Barcelona.
After a challenging loan spell at Rangers during the second half of last season, where he struggled to make a regular impact, Silva showcased his talent and composure in La Liga on Saturday afternoon.
The Portuguese internationalist capitalised on a crucial opportunity to secure a memorable win for the Canary Islanders and inflict a third defeat of the 2024/25 league campaign on leaders Barcelona.
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Silva's performance was particularly impressive given the high stakes of the match. Las Palmas entered the contest sitting just above the relegation zone in 17th place, and they were heavy underdogs against a dominant Barcelona side.
Scotland defender Scott McKenna played a vital role in the backline, helping to contain the threats posed by Barcelona's veteran striker Robert Lewandowski and his team of star's.
The match unfolded at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, where Las Palmas faced intense pressure from the hosts. Despite Barcelona's dominance in the first half, which ended goalless, Las Palmas took the lead shortly after the break when Sandro Ramírez found the net in the 49th minute.
Barcelona equalised with a goal from Raphinha just after the hour mark, leading many to believe they would turn the tide in their favour.
However, Silva had other plans. Just six minutes after Barcelona had levelled, he latched onto a through ball and calmly slotted it home, stunning the majority of the 43,921 home crowd.
Barcelona - who have currently played one or two more games than the chasing pack behind them - risk their La Liga lead being reduced to just one point if Real Madrid secures a victory against Getafe on Sunday.
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