One trophy missed out on; another one firmly in their sights. Real Madrid might have succumbed to Barcelona’s firepower in the overseas-held Supercopa final, but they remain in the hunt near the top of LaLiga and have another big week ahead, starting at home to Las Palmas.
By Karl Matchett
Ancelotti underperforming?
It’s not a conversation you’d usually expect to hear, but there were certainly mutterings about whether Carlo Ancelotti was getting the most out of Real’s expensively-assembled – in wages, if not always transfer fees – squad this term.
The Italian boss did guide his side to seven wins in eight over winter, but slipping behind rivals Atlético in the title race and losing to Barca in Saudi Arabia will only increase scrutiny – and that’s before considering Los Blancos are far from assured of a place in the Champions League knockouts yet, with a play-off place likely needed.
Before thinking of Salzburg on Wednesday, though, Ancelotti and Co must overcome Las Palmas. This has tended to be a one-sided result recently, with Real winning five meetings in a row, scoring 13 and conceding only once in that run, but a 1-1 draw last time they met will give the visitors some hope.
Recent form
Las Palmas might need that hope, in truth – there’s not much else to cling onto, other than if Real rest some players ahead of their midweek Champions League action. The European Cup holders have won eight of nine on home soil this term, losing only El Clásico, scoring 24 in just nine games. Las Palmas are far from the worst travellers in the top flight, but three wins from nine and only 11 netted themselves also won’t mark them out as favourites.
One outlier result will certainly make Real concerned, though. Only a few weeks before Christmas, Las Palmas went to Barcelona and beat them in their own backyard, a 2-1 win coming despite having under 30 per cent possession and only five shots all game. Efficient, they certainly were. Real will expect not to miss the vast haul of chances that Barca did that game – one goal from 27 shots was quite the return. Since the start of 2025, however, Las Palmas have played two, lost two.
Team news
Real will be without suspended pair Luka Modrić and Vinícius Júnior, along with long-term absentees Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal. Eduardo Camavinga has joined them on the sidelines, but will be back next month. Las Palmas have Dário Essugo suspended and José Campaña injured, but Marvin Park could make his return.
Key player
With the top two chance creators out, ball progression and finding spaces will fall in part to Fede Valverde. He has 23 chances created this term, fourth in the squad, but he also knows how to find the net from long range – all five LaLiga goals this term are from outside the box. In ensuring Real Madrid don’t replicate Barcelona’s wasteful mistakes, chance creation and ability to finish from all angles could well prove vital.
Prediction
No great surprises and quite a few goals. Madrid 3 Las Palmas 1
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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