Simon Brown: Travelled over for today's game - first time at Nou Camp! Gamble on team selection has paid off, its a fluent attacking Barca!

Las Palmas have travelled around 1,400 miles to Barcelona for today's game. Let us know about your epic football journeys via #bbceurofooty.

Early attack from Las Palmas, as the ball is lifted in towards Kevin-Prince Boateng, whose acrobatic attempt at an overhead kick drifts some way wide. They're not threatening a great deal in this game, but they are only one goal behind.

We're off again. With sound now, I'm pleased to report.

Image source, AP

...aaaaaand I'm back in the room. Well, Las Palmas got rather overwhelmed as that half went on; they're fortunate to be just one goal down. There's a slow pop ballad playing over the public address system at the Nou Camp as I type. My knowledge of contemporary pop isn't what it used to be, but it sounds as if it's being sung very sincerely, so I'd imagine it's probably called something such as 'Believe In Yourself' or 'You Are The Only One'.

I had to watch that entire first half on a screen the size of a drinks coaster, and with no sound. So if the text commentary sounded even more muddled than my efforts usually do, that was why. I'm off to find a better monitor for the second half. I shall be back with you shortly.

Oh, what a chance for Lionel Messi. Substitute defender Aythami, who still doesn't seem to be totally up with the pace of the game, stumbles as the ball comes towards him, and Messi is in. Then, everything seems to happen in slow motion for a few seconds. Aythami thinks about trying to hug Messi to the floor, sort of falls over into his path, but the Argentine rides the slapstick defending, strides through and looks certain to score - but Javi Varas stands up long enough to make the block. That may have kept Las Palmas in the match.

As he did in the opening minutes, Messi floats the ball over the wall - but it dips, and Javi Varas has to flip the ball over, just to ensure it doesn't sneak beneath the bar. The smartphones in the crowd flash and click. The ensuing corner comes to nowt.

Barcelona probe and press, trying different combinations, like a scientist trying to split an atom, or me trying to open a carton of milk without spilling any. Lionel Messi thinks he's found a way through with a first-time chip to Luis Suarez, but the former Liverpool man is just offside. Milk everywhere.

Now Las Palmas defender Helder Lopes goes into the book for a foul on Messi. Another Barca free-kick within shooting range...

There's been a change in defence, meanwhile, for Las Palmas. David Garcia hobbles off, unable to continue, and Aythami is on in his place.

It's a straight swap at centre-back, but there's a degree of disorganisation as the visitors adjust to the change, and they almost go 2-0 down in the moments that follow. Javi Varas can't hold a shot, Lionel messi is on to the loose ball and, having evaded the goalkeeper's attempts to claim the loose ball and twisted back into space, drills a shot right across goal. 

Image source, Getty Images

Barcelona are somewhere between one million and five million times better at attacking than they are at tackling. Andre Gomes, helpfully, gives a rather neat one-man demonstration of this.

First, he gathers Sergio Busquets perfect pass over the top, with the defence split, only to shoot over from eight yards. Moments later, he becomes the third Barcelona player booked for needlessly clipping Kevin-Prince Boateng, who looks rather narked by the whole episode. And I don't blame him.

Re: Tackling in La Liga. Barcelona centre-back Javier Mascherano answers my question by scything down Jonathan Viera, who is, as my old infant school teacher would have put it, 'in the wars' at the moment. Another yellow card is flourished, this time in Mascherano's direction.

In tribute to Las Palmas' massive journeys to away games in La Liga (see Barry Carmody's tweet below of a few moments ago), I'd be interested to hear your tales of the furthest you've ever travelled to watch a match. Was it worth it? Did your team win? 

Tweet about that, and any thoughts on the game, life and love, using the hashtag #bbceurofooty

Another few minutes, another Barca chance, and Las Palmas are starting to sink here. Messi plays a ball left to Suarez who, back to goal, dinks a first-time pass across to Andre Gomes on the far side. He blasts towards the near post, but keeper Javi Varas reacts to block.

Rafinha, meanwhile, goes into the book for grabbing Jonathan Viera round the waist. Doesn't anyone know how to tackle in La Liga?

Barcelona respond, and almost grab a second with some lovely quick passing. It's Lioenl Messi feeding Rafinha into space on the left, and the Brazilian drives a shot across goal and just wide.

Half-chance for the visitors here. A long ball played in from the right seeks on Kevin-Prince Boateng at the far post, but the forward cannot stretch enough to make a telling contact, and sends his volley into outer space.

Patient build-up from Barca, passing the ball around in front of the Las Palmas ranks. Aleix Vidal plays a neat ball into Luis Suarez, but his first touch lets him down and the visitors are able to clear. Early days in this one, but so far. Las Palmas are looking solid.

Las Palmas are busy in midfield in the opening stages, buzzing around like something that's yellow and buzzes. (What's yellow and buzzes? An electric lemon.) The aim is to try to deny Barcelona's midfield space. Quique Setien, on the visitors' bench, is shouting instructions to his players.

John McEnerney: Again no Rakitic. Top clubs will be monitoring that situation like hawks some player that lad. Savage work rate & scores goals!

Yep, Ivan Rakitic was left out of the squad altogether last weekend at Villarreal, was on the bench against Athletic Bilbao in midweek and is a substitute again today.