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Immediate Reaction: Las Palmas 1 - 2 Real Madrid

Heads were a-scratchin' at Zidane's choice 11 as Real traveled to a very in-form Las Palmas.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

1. Keylor Navas was the best player on the pitch today. While Navas is known for his acrobatic leaping saves, today he used positional awareness and aggression off the line to make a series of point-saving saves. Earlier in the week there were rumblings that Zidane has been so impressed with Navas that he's prepared to give him a wage increase and keep him around in lieu of De Gea. Today, Navas might have given himself even more leverage. Without his stellar performance, it's easy to believe Real would have dropped points.

2. Mr. 92:43 finally found the net. Generally regarded as one of the world's best defenders in the opposition's box, Sergio Ramos had been in a goal drought in all competitions this year, which is surprising as he's the leading scoring defender in Europe of the last 10 years (source). Not since early November had Ramos found the net, but today he timed his run perfectly to give Real the lead, right as Las Palmas looked keen on scoring themselves.

3. This game, generally, was a snoozer for the better part of 88 minutes. And full credit to Las Palmas, who did well to defend Gran Canaria, but my goodness this game was dull from the first whistle until the teams traded goals on the eve of added time. Las Palmas had won three games on the trot and not conceded in that span, so perhaps Zidane could have sent out a bit more attacking flair by way of starters or subs, but this was the type of unexciting win most would call "businesslike."

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