Runner-up to Girona in La Liga when it came time to face Las Palmas this Saturday afternoon, Real Madrid had an obligation to win to regain a two-point lead over their other Catalan rival. To do this, Carlo Ancelotti notably decided to line up a Vinicius-Rodrygo duo with Brahim Diaz in support. Thus, Federico Valverde, Luka Modric and Aurélien Tchouaméni came to sit on the Italian technician’s bench. From the first minutes of play, several opportunities could have led to the opening score.
Finally, Rüdiger’s save prevented Alberto Moleiro from scoring (3rd) while Rodrygo rushed too much in front of the opponent’s goal (5th). Starting off with a bang, this match finally experienced an incredible slump which lasted the entire first period. Shy, the two teams did not hit much on goal and the meeting was marked by several technical inaccuracies which polluted the first act on the Canary Islands. And despite a few attempts by Vinicius (36th, 41st), the two teams returned to the locker room with a logical goalless score.
Merengues picked cold but which reacted well
At the Gran Canaria stadium, the locals then started the second period with the knife between their teeth. And their extra commitment quickly paid off. Author of superb work to overwhelm and resist the Madrid defense, Sandro Ramirez, the former Barça player, served Javier Munoz perfectly. The latter was then quick to open the scoring by deceiving Andrey Lunin (1-0, 53rd). It was then that the visitors woke up. Carvajal thought he would equalize but his goal was ultimately refused for an offside position (57th). Increasingly precise, the capital club was finally able to count on Vinicius Junior.
General league table
|
#
|
Team
|
Pts
|
J
|
DIF
|
G
|
NOT
|
D
|
BP
|
B.C.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
|
54 |
21 |
31 |
17 |
3 |
1 |
45 |
14 |
|
2 |
|
52 |
21 |
26 |
16 |
4 |
1 |
51 |
25 |
|
3 |
|
44 |
20 |
16 |
13 |
5 |
2 |
40 |
24 |
|
4 |
|
41 |
20 |
17 |
13 |
2 |
5 |
40 |
23 |
|
5 |
|
41 |
21 |
17 |
12 |
5 |
4 |
38 |
21 |
|
6 |
|
36 |
22 |
11 |
9 |
9 |
4 |
32 |
21 |
|
7 |
|
32 |
21 |
3 |
9 |
5 |
7 |
27 |
24 |
|
8 |
|
31 |
22 |
3 |
9 |
4 |
9 |
22 |
19 |
|
9 |
|
31 |
21 |
0 |
7 |
10 |
4 |
24 |
24 |
|
10 |
|
26 |
20 |
-2 |
6 |
8 |
6 |
26 |
28 |
See the full ranking
Setting the sights on the previous action, the Brazilian was perfectly found by Eduardo Camavinga before putting the two teams back on level terms with a superb strike from the left (1-1, 64th). But while the latter was very close to confirming the comeback of Real Madrid at the end of the match (82nd), the light came from a Frenchman coming off the bench: Aurélien Tchouaméni. The former Monegasque rose higher than everyone on a corner to catapult the ball into the left corner of Valles (1-2, 84th). Solid thereafter, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad went for a victory which took time to take shape but was oh so precious. Real Madrid are the new La Liga leaders and are two points ahead of Girona. Las Palmas may harbor regrets in the face of an intractable opponent. The Canary Islands club is eighth.
