An injury time penalty saved Barcelona from two more points dropped in their pursuit of leaders Real Madrid and Girona.

Xavi’s team had turned in another lamentable first-half performance and were trailing at the break. Ferran Torres levelled for them and when Daley Sinkgraven foolishly pushed Gundogan on 92 minutes, the German midfielder grabbed the ball and coolly slotted it past Alvaro Valles.

Barcelona were awful in the first 45 minutes failing to muster a shot on goal.

Las Palmas managed seven and from one of those Munir El Haddadi put the home side ahead.

And as if it wasn’t bad enough for Barcelona that a former player scored the goal, the assist came from another one-time Barca player.

Ilkay Gundogan’s stoppage-time penalty earned Barcelona a 2-1 comeback win at Las Palmas

Gundogan was fouled by Daley Sinkgraven in the box and he converted the spot-kick

Sandro Ramirez crossed from the right and Munir converted. There was a quick hands together in apology to fans of his former club before he slid into the corner with a broad smile.

Barca had lost Joao Cancelo after just nine minutes. He went for the same ball as Maximo Perrone and hobbled off to be replaced by Andreas Christensen.

Xavi had vowed there would not be a repeat of the poor first half in Barca’s last game before the break and he had left Joao Felix on the bench. But the absence of the Portuguese did little to improve Barcelona’s start to the game.

Barca had 18-year-old Vitor Roque on the bench alongside Felix. He looked on as Xavi’s side struggled to make any first-half inroads. Sandro hit the post as Las Palmas came closer to a second than Barcelona to an equalizer.

There was, at least, a reaction in the second half with Ferran equalising 11 minutes in. Sergio Roberto teed-up him up in a crowded penalty area and he found the net with a precise shot. It was Barca’s first shot on target and it had beaten Valles.

Barcelona had not lost their opening game of the year since 2015 when David Moyes’ Real Sociedad beat them 1-0. Ferran’s goal calmed the nerves.

Both former Barcelona forwards Sandro and Munir were off as Las Palmas coach Francisco Garcia Pimienta tried to freshen his tired team. The Las Palmas coach is another Barca old boy – he was 19-years at the club coaching in the youth system and was even considered for the top job in 2020 when Quique Setien was dismissed.

Las Palmas opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a goal by Munir El Haddadi

Barca struck back when Ferran Torres beat keeper Alvaro Valles with a scruffy finish

Barca boss Xavi (above) kicks a bottle in frustration during the LaLiga encounter

With 20 minutes left Felix was brought on, the surprise came with the player he replaced. Robert Lewandowski was the man to make one – untouchable for so long it was an illustration of Xavi beginning to think if it’s sink or swim over the coming weeks then he’ll do it his way. Ferran moved to centre-forward flanked by Felix and the other change, Lamine Yamal.

Mika Marmol then so nearly became the second former Barcelona player to score against them. The former Barca B defender headed a corner just wide and that was the cue for Roque to come on for his debut. He almost scored with his first touch intercepting a short back pass only for Valles to block.

Las Palmas looked like holding on – only Real Madrid had scored two goals against them this season. Sinkgraven was only playing because regular right-back Julian Araujo belongs to Barca and so was unable to play against them.

His daft push gave Gundogan the chance to turn one point into three and he made no mistake. Roque had a late chance to grab a debut goal but skewed his shot wide. It didn’t matter Barcelona had kept the distance at the top to seven points. They are still in the title race going into the second half of the season. If they learn to start games better they may yet defend their title.