Real Madrid moved up to second place in LaLiga, surpassing Barcelona, with a comfortable victory over UD Las Palmas at the Santiago Bernabéu. This win extended Las Palmas’ streak of 21 consecutive top-flight away games without a victory (D5, L16).
Real Madrid, eager to bounce back from their recent 3-1 defeat in El Derbi, started the match aggressively against the newly-promoted Las Palmas. Las Palmas, who had never won at the Bernabéu before (D5, L29), seemed like an ideal opponent for Real Madrid to respond to their setback. Real Madrid initiated a clear attacking strategy, sending several long passes over Las Palmas’ defense towards Joselu. As the first half progressed, the home team continued to press, with multiple attempts from Rodrygo, Joselu, and Nacho saved by the seemingly unbeatable Álvaro Valles. However, they finally broke through just before halftime when Federico Valverde switched the play to Lucas Vázquez, who set up Brahim Díaz for his first goal of the season.
Replacing the current Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema is a challenging task, one that Joselu struggled with in the first half. Nevertheless, the Spanish international made amends for his missed opportunities shortly after the second half began. Rodrygo skillfully maneuvered into the box and provided a lofted cross for Joselu to head past the helpless Valles. It was precisely what Carlo Ancelotti’s team needed after a frustrating first half.
The introduction of the previously injured Vinícius Júnior from the bench did little to boost Las Palmas’ hopes. They needed to double their LaLiga goals for the season if they were to salvage anything from the match. In reality, there was very little indication that Las Palmas could achieve anything other than a Real Madrid victory, as their game plan seemed to have fallen apart after falling behind.
The match ended rather uneventfully, with Real Madrid strolling to victory. This victory marked the conclusion of a streak of five home matches against Las Palmas in which Real Madrid scored three goals or more, setting the stage for a top-of-the-table clash with surprise leaders Girona. For Las Palmas, who failed to register a shot in the first 70 minutes, this match served as a reminder of the challenges they face after securing their first league win since returning to the top flight