Raphinha’s goal helps Barcelona secure a victory and narrow the distance with Real Madrid.

Raphinha, the Brazilian forward, was the hero of the night as he celebrated his goal during the intense Liga match between Barcelona and Las Palmas at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on March 30, 202Raphinha’s goal proved to be the winner for Barcelona, as they overcame the 10 men of Las Palmas and closed the gap to five points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

With the highly anticipated El Clasico still to come, Real Madrid cannot afford any slip-ups when they face Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night.

Barcelona dominated the game, enjoying a staggering 69% possession against Las Palmas. However, they struggled to find a breakthrough until Raphinha’s decisive goal in the 59th minute. The goal was expertly assisted by substitute Joao Felix, who made an immediate impact after coming on.

Barcelona’s task was made easier by a red card shown to Las Palmas goalkeeper Alvaro Valles. Valles was sent off after committing a foul on Raphinha just outside the box, as the Brazilian was making a surging run towards the goal.

Before Raphinha’s heroics, Barcelona came close to scoring when Robert Lewandowski hit the bar. However, it was the introduction of Joao Felix that provided the extra impetus for the hosts. The Portuguese star not only provided the chipped assist for Raphinha’s headed goal but also hit the bar himself, showcasing his immense talent.

Overall, it was a hard-fought victory for Barcelona, who now have their sights set on closing the gap further and challenging Real Madrid for the top spot in La Liga. With the upcoming El Clasico, the title race is far from over, and both teams will be eager to secure a crucial victory.