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Real Madrid defeated Las Palmas 3-1 to stay on top of the La Liga and maintain their unbeaten streak. The Madrid-based club now have 24 points in 10 matches. Rafa Benitez named Kiko Casilla in the starting lineup for the visit of the newly promoted Las Palmas while Varane and Nacho were paired as the central defenders for Los Blancos.
First Half: Madrid take commanding lead
The Madrid-based club opened the scoring in the fourth minute itself when Javi Varas’ weak clearance gave home side the ball outside the penalty area. Casemiro calmly passed the ball into Isco’s path who coolly slotted his left-footed shot over goalkeeper Varas.
Real players kept pressing and looking for spaces between the Las Palmas defence and Luka Modric got a chance to shoot from outside the box in the 13th minute, but Varas palmed his effort away. Just a minute later, Marcelo’s brilliant early cross found Cristiano Ronaldo in front of the Palmas’ goal and the Portuguese forward finished with his head to score his eighth goal of the season.
Casilla was brought into action for the first time in the 19th minute when Viera entered from the left side of the box and dribbled past Varane to curl a precision strike into the far corner. But the Madrid shot-stopper made no mistake in saving the shot. Eight minutes later, Jese entered from the left side of the box and tried to curl in a grounded shot but Varas palmed the shot away and Marcelo skied the resulting rebound.
The Spanish forward was in action again as he made a threatening run on the right flank and Isco managed to shoot from the resulting cross only for Varas to make a great save. Surprisingly, Las Palmas scored in the 38th minute and sent their handful of supporters into ecstasy. Some sloppy defending gave Hernan a chance to head home from mere six yards, which he did and Casilla had no answer.
Jese Rodriguez was arguably Madrid’s best player in the first half, and he deservedly got a goal late in the half. He slid in from the left and found some space to hit a thunderous shot low into the goal and gave his team a two-goal cushion.
Second Half
Lucas Vasquez was introduced for Luka Modric as a half-time substitute by Benitez. Six minutes in the first half, Isco made a great run and his through ball was received well by the Spanish player, but his shot went across the face of goal.
Las Palmas were matching Madrid move for move in the early exchanges of the half and Willian Jose struck a fine free-kick in the 55th minute to force Casilla into a tremendous save. Varane gave Benitez a scare when he got injured while clearing a Palmas cross, but the knock was not too serious as the defender continued playing on.
Jese was taken off for youngster Marcos Llorente in the 80th minute to cap off a brilliant day. The second half was quite dull for the most part compared to the first 45 minutes. However, in the 92nd minute Ronaldo got a glorious chance to score his second, but the goalkeeper parried his shot into Vasquez’s path, who blasted the ball towards the goal but Varas snicked his effort away as well.
The match ended 3-1 in favour of Real Madrid, putting pressure on Barcelona to win their game later today.
