Andy West
Spanish football writer at Nou Camp

Towards the end of that half Barca were looking extremely frustrated, with Gerard Pique obviously very upset by the performance of the referee.

Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba were both booked for complaints shortly before the whistle and Ernesto Valverde needs to settle them down during the break.

An update to off-field developments as Barcelona's mayor now says at least 460 people have been injured as police have used force to try to prevent voting in Catalonia's independence referendum.

Follow the latest news here.

Andy West
Spanish football writer at Nou Camp

Barca needed half-time. Las Palmas were on top for the last 15-20 minutes and came very close with that shot from Jonathan Calleri against the post.

The visitors, no doubt helped by the absence of atmosphere, became increasingly comfortable and played plenty of the attractive flowing football for which they have become renowned.

Captain and attacking midfielder Jonathan Viera is a particularly enjoyable player to watch.

Image source, Reuters

Referee books Sergio Busquets as he walks off the pitch at half-time. Not sure what's happened there.

At the other end, Lionel Messi curls an effort over the bar as Las Palmas fail to clear a corner.

Image source, Reuters

The closest we've come to a goal as Las Palmas striker Jonathan Calleri crashes an effort off the post in the penalty area. This must be their best performance of the season.

Las Palmas are actually winning the possession stats - 53%. Lionel Messi is crowded out again on the edge of the area.

Image source, AFP

Luis Suarez skips past a couple of defenders but his shot is blocked. A reminder that Barcelona have won all eight La Liga and Champions League matches this season.

Andy West
Spanish football writer at Nou Camp

You’ve got to wonder how much the lack of support will affect Barca’s performance today, with the ‘hosts’ deprived of the extra lift in intensity usually provided by home fans.

Playing behind closed doors ordinarily only ever happens as a punishment, and if Barca fail to win this game you can be sure there will be plenty of fury about the way they seem to have been forced into playing against their will.

Lionel Messi goes on a trademark run, gets around a few Las Palmas defenders but eventually bites off more than he can chew and loses the ball.

Image source, AFP

Andy West
Spanish football writer at Nou Camp

“Ahora si [Now yes], eh?” yells Gerard Pique in the direction of referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero as the latter waves a yellow card at Paulinho for a foul.

Presumably the Barca centre-back feels aggrieved that a similar Las Palmas challenge earlier on did not draw the same punishment…

Of course Pique was booked himself moments later for a foul.

Las Palmas don't look like a side battling relegation. Oussama Tannane crosses and Jonathan Calleri gets a touch, under pressure from Gerard Pique, which rolls to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

West Ham fans will be wondering where this Calleri was last season.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique follows Paulinho in the book after pulling Jonathan Calleri in the shorts. In fact he almost tore his shorts off.

Barcelona's best chance of the game maybe, Sergi Roberto whips in a great cross from the right which Paulinho heads wide - under pressure admittedly.

Seconds later the Brazilian midfielder is booked for a foul on Las Palmas keeper Leandro Chichizola.

Barcelona have a corner and Gerard Pique - who might face an interesting reception when he plays for Spain next week - heads over the bar. Might have been deflected but the referee says goal kick.

Las Palmas are arguably on top now and Sergi Roberto does well to clear Oussama Tannane's cross - with keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen not in the centre of his goal.

Andy West
Spanish football writer at Nou Camp

As we do actually have a game of football, let’s also have a footballing observation: it’s very clear today that Barca manager Ernesto Valverde has lined up his players in a pretty conventional 4-4-2 formation, with Messi and Luis Suarez up front, while Aleix Vidal is on the right wing and Denis Suarez on the left.

This is (I think) the fourth different formation he’s used already this season. It’s a major departure from the 4-3-3 shape Barca have employed almost exclusively for the last decade, and shows that Valverde is still trying to find a convincing tactical formula for his team.

Sergio Busquets is caught day dreaming and Jonathan Calleri tries to nick the ball off him but commits a foul in truing to do so.

Now Las Palmas - who are very alert - take the ball off Javier Mascherano and it ends with Calleri having a blocked shot.

Corner, and West Ham flop Calleri has another go. Blocked again.

Las Palmas are starting to play some good stuff and Oussama Tannane stings the palms of Marc-Andre ter Stegen with a 25-yard effort.

Barca aren't having this all their own way.