Sports Mole previews Thursday’s La Liga clash between Las Palmas and Real Madrid, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Real Madrid will be targeting consecutive victories when they face Las Palmas in Thursday’s La Liga clash in Gran Canaria.
The reigning La Liga champions swept past Real Valladolid on matchday two, while Las Palmas fell to a narrow defeat against Leganes.
Match preview
© Imago
Real Madrid experienced some notable changes to their squad over the summer, seeing Toni Kroos retire from professional football before unveiling Kylian Mbappe and Endrick as their star signings.
Mbappe began his Real Madrid with a goal in the UEFA Super Cup win against Atalanta, but he has been unable to find the net in his first two La Liga outings.
Los Blancos began their league campaign with a frustrating 1-1 away draw against Mallorca, before they produced a strong second-half performance to cruise to a 3-0 home win over newly-promoted Real Valladolid.
Federico Valverde and Brahim Diaz grabbed a goal apiece to lay the foundations for Endrick to come off the bench to add a third, making the 18-year-old the youngest Real Madrid player to score on his La Liga debut in the 21st century.
As a result of that commanding victory, Carlo Ancelotti‘s side have now avoided defeat in 34 top-flight matches since losing to city rivals Atletico Madrid in September 2023.
Real Madrid will now travel to Gran Canaria with aspirations of claiming their first away win of the season, and they will fancy their chances of claiming all three points after winning their previous four meetings with Las Palmas, including a 2-1 victory in January’s away fixture.
© Imago
Las Palmas are under new management this season after Garcia Pimienta ended his two-and-a-half stay to take over the reins at Sevilla.
Luis Carrion was subsequently appointed as Pimienta’s successor, taking on the role after going agonisingly close to guiding Real Oviedo to success in the Segunda Division playoffs last season.
Oviedo’s La Liga dreams may have been ended by a playoff final defeat to Espanyol, but Carrion has been given the opportunity to showcase his managerial credentials in the top flight for the first time in his coaching career.
Unfortunately for Carrion, life as a La Liga manager has got off to an underwhelming start, having seen his side take just one point from their first two matches.
They played out a 2-2 home draw in their league opener, before they fell to a 2-1 loss in Sunday’s away clash with Leganes, extending their winless La Liga run to 16 matches.
Las Palmas may find it difficult to claim their first La Liga win since February in Thursday’s meeting with the reigning European champions, but they will be hoping to take a point off Los Blancos for the first time since playing out a 3-3 draw in March 2017.
Las Palmas La Liga form:
Real Madrid La Liga form:
Real Madrid form (all competitions):
Team News
© Imago
Real Madrid will play a second straight game without the services of Jude Bellingham, who has been ruled out until after the international break with a muscle injury in his right leg.
Bellingham is joined in the treatment room by David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga, while Jesus Vallejo is a doubt after he missed the win against Valladolid due to a fitness issue.
Ferland Mendy has served a one-match suspension for the red card he received against Mallorca, and the Frenchman is set to replace Fran Garcia on the left side of a back four.
Ancelotti is likely to make further changes to freshen up his side, with Lucas Vazquez, Luka Modric and Brahim all in contention to start Estadio Gran Canaria.
As for the visitors, they are having to cope without the attacking duo of Adnan Januzaj and Pejino due to muscle injuries.
Midfielder Fabio Gonzalez will have to be assessed ahead of Thursday’s fixture, having been forced to miss the first two matches with an ankle issue.
Sandro Ramirez may have to settle for a place on the bench despite finding the net in Las Palmas’ first two matches of the new season.
Las Palmas possible starting lineup:
Cillessen; Suarez, McKenna, Marmol, A Munoz; J Munoz, Loiodice, Rodriguez; Marvin, Moleiro, McBurnie
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Modric; Brahim; Mbappe, Vinicius Jr
We say: Las Palmas 1-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid may have experienced a frustrating result in their previous away game against Mallorca, but they would have taken confidence from Sunday’s 3-0 home win over Valladolid, and we think they will claim three more points against a Las Palmas side who are winless in 16 league games.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.