By Real Madrid continues their La Liga campaign with a midweek trip to the Canary Islands, facing Las Palmas at the Estadio Gran Canaria on Thursday night. Carlo Ancelotti’s side, fresh off their first league win of the season, looks to maintain momentum against a Las Palmas team striving for survival in Spain’s top flight.
The match, set to kick off at 20:30 BST, sees Real Madrid making their second journey away from the mainland this season. They’ll aim to improve on their previous away performance, a 1-1 draw against Mallorca in their season opener.
Real Madrid enters the fixture buoyed by a convincing 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid last Sunday, where Brazilian sensation Endrick notched his first goal for the club. The win was a marked improvement from their season start, showcasing the offensive prowess that makes them title contenders.
Las Palmas, under new manager Luis Miguel Carrion, faces a stern test as they seek to build on their single point from two matches. The hosts will be without former Manchester United prospect Adnan Januzaj, sidelined with a muscle injury until after the September international break.
Ancelotti is expected to rotate his squad, with Luka Modric potentially making his first start of the season. The Italian tactician will, however, be without injured midfielders Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga. Turkish international Arda Guler could retain his place in the starting lineup after a rare start in the previous match.
Real Madrid’s attack will be spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe, supported by the dynamic Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. The defensive line sees the return of Ferland Mendy from suspension, likely to slot in at left-back.
Las Palmas’ lineup features Scottish internationals Oli McBurnie and Scott McKenna, adding a British flavor to the Spanish side’s roster. Their primary challenge will be containing Madrid’s star-studded attack while seeking to exploit any defensive vulnerabilities on the counter.
Historical head-to-head records heavily favor Real Madrid, who have won four of the last five encounters between the sides. Their most recent meeting in January saw Madrid come from behind to secure a 2-1 victory in Gran Canaria.
As Real Madrid continues to integrate new signings and adapt their system, particularly with Mbappe leading the line, this match presents an opportunity to fine-tune their approach. Las Palmas, meanwhile, will be eager to prove they can compete against La Liga’s elite as they battle for top-flight survival.
With the combination of Real Madrid’s offensive firepower and Las Palmas’ determination to upset the odds, Thursday’s clash promises to be an intriguing spectacle in the early stages of the La Liga season.
