:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49060639/GettyImages-514356916.0.jpg)
As Real Madrid prepare to face the 15th-placed Las Palmas, Zidane will be wary of the danger that Quique Setién’s side will pose, with Unión Deportiva Las Palmas having won their last three matches, including an impressive 0-1 away win against the 4th-placed Villareal. This will be the third time in nearly 17 years that Los Blancos face the Canarian outfit.
Las Palmas have only managed to win eight out of their 28 league encounters, but their current form will surely be a matter of concern for a team that often struggles to play away from home. Setién’s men, who currently sit four points ahead of the relegation zone, will be keen on securing a draw at the very minimum, with each of the remaining ten matches a final for the islanders.
The Spanish giants, quite similarly, have only secured three wins in their last five league matches, having drawn against Malaga and embarrassingly losing against their city arch rivals. That being said, Real Madrid sit 30 points ahead of Las Palmas in the table, and have only lost four matches out of their 28 league encounters.
The hosts
, led by ex-Real Madrid striker Willian José (with six goals to his name), have the best goal difference (-10) of the bottom six outfits in the league table, having managed to score 30 goals in the league, while only conceding 40. Additionally, Las Palmas have gone their last three league games without conceding. To put this into perspective, the 6th-placed Athletic Bilbao have shipped in 36 goals, and the 7th-placed Celta Vigo 51 goals. Accordingly, Real Madrid’s frontline will need to be in fine form to ensure that the islanders do not walk away with a stalemate at home.
While Real Madrid’s title ambitions may be over, Willian is aware of the fact that Los Blancos will be aiming to establish good form. "They're coming to win the game and Ronaldo wants to continue scoring goals because he's fighting to be top goalscorer. He's a very difficult forward to defend against," the Brazilian stated.
Real Madrid’s away form will of course be a matter of concern for their French manager. Zidane’s side, while ruthless at home, have only once scored more than two goals away from home since October, and that came against the last-placed Levante side with an injury time goal.
Whereas Las Palmas seemingly have more to play for than Real Madrid in the league, Zidane’s men will surely be focused on establishing a form fine enough to lead them towards an 11th Champions League title. Real Madrid’s last trip to Las Palmas resulted in a 4-2 loss (with current manager Zidane having scored a magnificent free-kick).
Expect Ronaldo and co. (still without Karim Benzema) to overcome this weekend’s difficult trip to Las Palmas and secure all three points.
Las Palmas possible lineup: Varas; Garcia, Lemos, Bigas, Garrido; Montoro, Momo; Borges, Viera, El Zhar; Jose
Real Madrid possible lineup: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Isco; Bale, Mayoral, Ronaldo
Managing Madrid staff predictions:
- Om – Las Palmas 1 – 3 Real Madrid
- Andrejs – Las Palmas 0 – 1 Real Madrid
- Kevin – Las Palmas 0 - 2 Real Madrid
- Lucas – Las Palmas 0 - 3 Real Madrid
- Kiyan – Las Palmas 1 - 3 Real Madrid