Preview - Las Palmas vs Real Madrid 01 April 2018

[Harry85]

Match Day 30
Las Palmas vs Real Madrid
Sunday, April 1st, 2018
01:00 am (GMT+8 Timing)
Stadium: Estadio Gran Canaria

Las Palmas: 
Last five matches form: D D L L D
Average goals per match: 0.7
Average goals against per match: 2.0
Top Scorer: Jonathan Calleri (7)

Real Madrid:
Last five matches form: L W W W W
Average goals per match: 2.5
Average goals against per match: 1.1
Top Scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (22)

Third bottom play third top this week in La Liga as struggling Las Palmas welcome an in-form Real Madrid.

Real Madrid aren't going to win La Liga this term but have Champions League qualification all but secured. With big rivals Atletico currently lying in second position though, they will undoubtedly have their sights set on hauling them in. Zinedine Zidane may still choose to make a few changes here though with a titanic Champions League clash with Juventus lying in wait in midweek.

Las Palmas are in danger of becoming cut adrift at the bottom and won't be helped here by problems in defence. Pedro Bigas definitely misses out, whilst there are also concerns surrounding Oghenekaro Etebo.

Real Madrid have had their ups and downs this season but are ticking along very nicely at present having won 10 of their last 12 in all competitions.

Las Palmas are now winless in seven in La Liga, but have largely been performing with credit, recording a draw at home with Barcelona over this period, and only once losing by more than one goal.

Much will depend on the Madrid line-up here, but even with a few changes they should still have too much going forward for their hosts. Ronaldo scored four in his last League outing, whilst Isco bagged his own quartet for the national side in midweek. Ronaldo may be rested but Isco seems likely to start and we see the little magician providing the impetus for an away win.

Prediction: Las Palmas 1 - 2 Real Madrid

[Harry85]

Half time: 0 - 2
Full time: 0 - 3
Shots: 17 - 17
Shots on target: 3 - 7
Corner Kicks: 3 - 4
Possession: 51% - 49%

Momo, Alejandro Galvez and Ximo Navarro were booked by referee Pablo Gonzalez for the home side. Real Madrid kept out of trouble throughout.

No Ronaldo and no Isco, but Real Madrid still had more than enough in their locker to run out comfortable winners here.

The opener came in the 26th minute, and it was the returned to the starting line-up Gareth Bale who grabbed it. Much credit must go to Luka Modric though whose brilliant through ball from inside his own half sent Bale racing away on the left. Outpacing his pursuers, Bale drew the keeper off his line before rifling into the far top corner.

The second came in the 39th minute. Jonathan Calleri's senseless and clumsy foul on Lucas Vazquez in the box leaving the referee with little option but to point to the spot. Karim Benzema did the honours. 0-2 at the break.

The third and final goal also came from the spot. Navarro lucky to escape with just a yellow card when swiping at Bale's leg in the box as the Welshman shaped to shoot. Bale was unscathed though and stepped up himself to take the spot kick, giving the keeper the eyes before shooting straight up the middle.

The match petered out from that point, with Las Palmas either incapable of mounting a threat or simply settling for a damage limitation exercise.

Real Madrid remain in third placed but have closed the gap to Atletico Madrid to just the one point ahead of their big rivals' clash with Deportivo La Coruna tomorrow.

Levante's point at Girona means the gap between Las Palmas and safety now stands at a worrying seven points.