Almost a great team goal from Barcelona as Lionel Messi comes in from behind to nip the ball off Alberto Aquilani, Andres Iniesta plays a back-heel to Ivan Rakitic but his shot is blocked.

Now Lionel Messi fires a shot wide. It must have been deflected as it's a corner.

Lionel Messi dances past a few Las Palmas defenders, tries to get Andres Iniesta out of his way and then shoots at visiting keeper Leandro Chichizola.

I think Messi must have had about five shots on target now. His fellow Argentine is his nemesis today.

Andy West
Spanish football writer at Nou Camp

Barca are looking a lot more comfortable in the second half, and it’s not surprising that their improvement has coincided with Andres Iniesta’s appearance on the pitch.

The 33 year-old skipper was rested by Ernesto Valverde after starting nearly every game so far this season, but he remains a fundamental player and the team always look poorer without him. Replacing him is one of the club’s biggest long-term concerns.

Image source, AFP

Jonathan Viera has a shot for Las Palmas from distance but it's wide. They're still playing some decent football - but not hitting the heights of the first half. Barca are much better after their half-time changes, to be fair.

Las Palmas midfielder Alberto Aquilani has been booked for dissent.

Free-kick for Barcelona, everyone expects Lionel Messi to shoot but he rolls it short for Luis Suarez - who was offside.

Play it into the big man. Luis Suarez clips a cross over the defence and Lionel Messi heads it wide from the penalty spot.

Ambitious, Las Palmas defender Mauricio Lemos has a go with a 35-yard free-kick which flies over the bar.

John McEnerney: Tense here in Barcelona city, Las Palmas fans would have felt very intimidated and afraid with 80,000 fired-up Catalans beside them

Andy West
Spanish football writer at Nou Camp

The figure of Javier Tebas will loom large in the debate about how this game is being played. Tebas is La Liga’s president, and a self-confessed Real Madrid fan.

A couple of days ago he changed his Twitter profile picture to an image of the Catalan and Spanish flags blended together in a heart shape.

Tebas has a lot of critics – in fact, it seems you either hate him or you really hate him. And having someone with such publicly stated personal interest in the Catalan independence issue as the head of La Liga is obviously very contentious.

Well now. Luis Suarez goes around keeper Leandro Chichizola, whose leg is trailing, and goes down. The referee comes over with a yellow card. Is it for Suarez for diving or the keeper for a foul, and a penalty kick?

To Las Palmas' relief it's a Suarez dive. The referee got it right too. All five players booked have been Barcelona players.

Image source, AFP

It's like an entirely different game to the first half (a game of two halves) as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have shots saved in the space of 40 seconds.

Image source, AFP

This is MUCH more like it from Barcelona. Andres Iniesta is spraying the ball around and now his fellow substitute Ivan Rakitic hits a great 25-yard strike which is saved.

Good start to this half for Barcelona and Lionel Messi forces another save from Leandro Chichizola following a 30-yard free-kick.

Barcelona make a double change at half-time. Midfielders Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic are on. Paulinho and Aleix Vidal have come off.

The second half is under way. Surely Barca will be better.

Image source, AFP

Andy West
Spanish football writer at Nou Camp

To counter the statement from La Liga (16:07 BST), Barca’s press officer has been circulating around the press box during half-time to explain the situation from their perspective.

According to the club, they asked for a postponement because they did not feel it would be appropriate to play the game considering the abnormal scenes which are taking place around Catalonia today.

The league refused and threatened a heavy sanction – presumably the six-point penalty which has been reported – so Barca reluctantly agreed to play the game but, as a sign of protest, they insisted it could only take place behind closed doors.

Four Barcelona players booked in that first half, none for Las Palmas.

The visitors have had more of the ball - 55%.

Barca's players appear rattled by the uncertainty surrounding this game.

La Liga has just released a statement.

It says that it "has maintained permanent contact with the security officials of FC Barcelona and with the Mossos [Catalan police] for several days".

The league added that "there was no reason for the postponement of the game" after local police gave security guarantees.