Late Ilkay Gundogan Penalty Keeps Barcelona Title Defence Alive At Las Palmas

Ilkay Gundogan stroked home a stoppage time penalty to grab champions Barcelona a barely deserved 2-1 win at Las Palmas on Thursday. Xavi Hernandez's side badly needed to win after leaders Real Madrid and Girona did so on Wednesday, with victory leaving the Catalans seven points behind the top two. Athletic Bilbao are fourth after a solid 2-0 win at Sevilla earlier Thursday, with Atletico Madrid fifth following their dramatic 4-3 defeat by Girona.

Barca were at times outplayed by the mid-table Canary Islanders, who took the lead through former Blaugrana striker Munir El Haddadi in the 12th minute.

Ferran Torres pulled Barcelona level in the second half and Gundogan netted the winner from the spot after he was shoved over in the box when poised to head into an empty net.

"In the first half they had two or three chances but in the second half they only had a corner," Xavi told Movistar.

"I think we made good substitutions and that told."

Barcelona improved after the break and put the hosts on the back foot, with Torres striking quickly to level the game.

The coach brought on attackers Joao Felix, Lamine Yamal and new arrival Vitor Roque in search of the winner, taking off veteran forward Robert Lewandowski.

"Ferran always does well for us," continued Xavi.

"There's a lot of competition up top and there will be minutes for all the players."

Las Palmas coach Francisco Garcia Pimienta, formerly in charge of Barcelona's reserve side, and his team offered their illustrious visitors a largely frustrating night.

Joao Cancelo hurt his left knee in a challenge in the opening stages and was forced off in an early blow for the Catalans, who struggled badly in the first half.

Xavi said after the game that Cancelo's injury did not seem