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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Oct 1, 2017 at 3.15pm UK
 
Las Palmas

3-0

Busquets (49'), Messi (70', 77')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Ernesto Valverde: 'Barcelona were put in difficult position'

Ernesto Valverde claims that Barcelona's decision to play against Las Palmas at an empty Camp Nou was an "exceptional gesture", amid scenes of violence in Catalonia.

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has admitted that his side's behind-closed-doors meeting with Las Palmas was a unique situation and one that he did not have much say in.

The La Liga leaders played Sunday's fixture at an empty Camp Nou after being threatened with a six-point penalty if they pushed ahead with plans to postpone it.

Violence across the Catalonia region had threatened to see the game called off, with tensions rising amid a controversial referendum for independence, but Valverde believes that the decision to play was a good way for Barca to show their own unified support.

"It's been a different situation from other situations, at least in my career," he told reporters. "The club has tried to postpone the game, it has not been possible, and the club has decided to make an exceptional gesture to a situation that was being generated throughout Catalonia.

"It is a decision that has put the club in a difficult situation. Until shortly before playing we did not know if we would play. The president went down to the locker room, we spoke about it and in the end it is a consensual decision with the club."

Barcelona went on to win the match 3-0 thanks to second-half goals from Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi, the latter scoring a brace to help extend his side's lead at the La Liga summit.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
3Real Madrid1283125111427
4Villarreal137422521425
5Osasuna146441922-322
6GironaGirona146352018221
7Mallorca146351312121
8Athletic Bilbao135531913620
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad135351110118
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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