In-form Las Palmas welcomed third-place Real Madrid to Gran Canaria in La Liga on Sunday night.
Both sides had chances in an open first period, but a Sergio Ramos header saw Real Madrid lead at the break.
Willian Jose made it 1-1 three minutes from time as the home team closed on a point, but Los Blancos, who had Sergio Ramos sent off late on, won it in the 89th minute through Casemiro.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
6.31pmEvening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from Gran Canaria as in-form Las Palmas welcome Real Madrid. The home side will enter this match off the back of a three-game winning run in the top flight, while Real Madrid thumped Celta Vigo 7-1 last weekend and also booked their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals during the week. It should be a cracking game of football!
6.34pmThe La Liga meeting between the two teams earlier this season was actually the first time that the pair had locked horns since the 2001-02 season. As a result, Real Madrid have not played away to Las Palmas since October 2001 and the hosts were 4-2 winners on that occasion. The reverse league match at the Bernabeu earlier this season, however, ended in a 3-1 Real Madrid win.
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6.37pmThat particular success over Las Palmas in October saw Real Madrid open up a three-point lead at the top of the table, but they are well off the pace (15 points) entering this match. Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Gran Canaria...
6.40pmTEAMS:
LAS PALMAS: Varas; Garcia, Lemos, Bigas, Garrido; Momo, Montoro; Nili, Viera, Mesa; Willian
REAL: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Arbeloa; Modric, Casemiro, Isco; Bale, Ronaldo, Vasquez
6.43pmJust the one change to the Las Palmas side this evening, with Roque Mesa replacing Nabil El Zhar in the final third of the field. That means that the Yellows will once again line-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, leaving Willian Jose as the central striker. Vicente Gomez and Hernan remain on the sidelines for the Canary islanders, but Jonathan Viera has shaken off a slight problem to start.
6.46pmAs for Real Madrid, neither Toni Kroos nor James Rodriguez have been included in the squad, while Karim Benzema is still on the sidelines. Gareth Bale starts once again in a front three that also includes Lucas Vasquez, while Casemiro is given another chance in the middle of the park. The surprise name on the teamsheet is Alvaro Arbeloa, who comes in for a rare start at left-back.
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6.50pmSo there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff in Gran Canaria. I shall speak about Real Madrid a little bit later, but let's start with Las Palmas, who will enter this match off the back of a three-game winning run. They are still in trouble with 10 games left, but nine points from an available nine have moved them into 15th position in the table.
6.53pmBetween January 17 and February 20, Las Palmas only won once in the league, which left them inside the relegation zone and facing a tough task to remain in the top flight. They have beaten Eibar, Getafe and Villarreal in their last three, however, to move into 15th position. A few weeks ago, a home match against Real Madrid would have been very daunting indeed, but beating Villarreal 1-0 away last weekend has to go down as one of the standout results of the entire season.
6.56pmLas Palmas' record from 28 matches this season reads won eight, drawn six and lost 14. They have found the back of the net on 30 occasions and conceded 40, which is actually a pretty good defensive record in relation to their position in the table. The fact that Las Palmas have netted in their last four games also represents their best scoring run of the season. Will that be extended here?
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7pmThis is actually Las Palmas' first La Liga campaign since they were relegated from the top flight in 2002. Since then, they have been stuck in the Segunda Division and also played in the Segunda B – the third tier of Spanish football – between 2004 and 2006. They came up through the Segunda playoffs last season, however, and are bidding to secure another campaign of La Liga football.
7.03pmReal Madrid, meanwhile, will enter this match 15 points behind the league leaders Barcelona and seven off second-place Atletico, who have both already won this weekend. It is vital that Los Blancos keep picking up results in the league and they will enter the match off the back of a thumping 7-1 win over Celta Vigo last weekend, which followed a 3-1 success away at Levante.
7.06pmA total of 18 wins, six draws and four defeats from 28 matches is hardly disastrous form, but Barcelona cannot stop winning and Atletico are also continuing to pick up strong results. It seems unlikely that Zidane's side will be able to catch Barcelona at the summit, but they will want to finish above Atletico. Failure to take all three points from this match would leave them in a precarious position.
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7.09pmReal Madrid have had no trouble scoring goals this season – hitting 81 in their 28 matches, but they have conceded 27 times, which is a worse defensive record than Barcelona, Atletico and also Villarreal. Injuries have harmed the team in recent weeks, but talk of unrest has also not helped. It is thought that there will be some big, big changes at the Bernabeu at the end of the season.
7.12pmReal Madrid have also dropped points in seven of their 13 away league matches this season, which is remarkable for a team of their stature. Three of their last five away games in La Liga have finished level and they struggled past basement side Levante at the start of the month. At the Bernabeu, more often than not, they are very strong indeed, but that has just not been the case on the road.
7.15pmLos Blancos, however, will enter the match having already sewn up their spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. They recorded a 2-0 victory at Roma in the first leg of their last-16 clash last month, before winning by the same scoreline at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night to finish off the job. Cristiano Ronaldo was once again on the scoresheet as he added to his four goals against Celta last weekend, which made him the second top goalscorer in La Liga history (252).
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7.18pm
Calientan los dos equipos, ¡treinta minutos para el partidazo! #LPAvRMA pic.twitter.com/abErilvce5
— UD Las Palmas (@UDLP_Oficial) March 13, 2016
7.22pmPREDICTION! Las Palmas will enter this match full of confidence, but I think that Real Madrid have enough about them to claim all the points. I expect the home side to come out full of energy and possibly take the lead, but I am backing Real Madrid to record a 2-1 victory in Gran Canaria.
7.25pmA final reminder of the two teams for tonight's match...
LAS PALMAS: Varas; Garcia, Lemos, Bigas, Garrido; Momo, Montoro; Nili, Viera, Mesa; Willian
REAL: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Arbeloa; Modric, Casemiro, Isco; Bale, Ronaldo, Vasquez
7.28pm
Juan Carlos Valerón recibe la camisa conmemorativa por sus 400 partidos en Primera División. ¡Felicidades mago! pic.twitter.com/XQnjZOoHe6
— UD Las Palmas (@UDLP_Oficial) March 13, 2016
0 minKICKOFF! Here we go then - the pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. Time for the football! It is the home side that kick things off in Gran Canaria...
2 min... not quite a full house inside the stadium tonight due to the high price for tickets, but there is still a good atmosphere. You almost get the feeling that Las Palmas really fancy their chances tonight and their recent form suggests that they could cause Real Madrid a lot of problems in this clash.
4 minNot too much to report inside the opening four minutes as both teams settle into their respective formations. As expected, Ronaldo is through the middle tonight, with Bale left and Vasquez down the right. As for Las Palmas, Willian Jose is leading the line with support from Nili and Viera.
6 minPossession football from Real Madrid as they work the ball from left to right and eventually Carvajal attempts to deliver towards the far post, but it is straight out of play for a Las Palmas goal kick.
8 minIt must be said that the pitch here is just beautiful. I am not sure if I have seen a better surface this season! On that pitch, Momo finds Willian Jose with a low cross, but the striker just cannot turn away from Pepe and find a shot on goal. Following a bit of panic, Real Madrid manage to clear down-field.
9 minRonaldo shifts the ball to one side outside the Las Palmas box, but his effort is poor.
10 minCHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side to take the lead following some sloppy Real Madrid defending, but Willian Jose cannot beat the advancing Navas from inside the box!
11 minComfortable save for Varas as the stopper gets down to keep out a Ronaldo strike.
12 minCHANCE! Momo comes close for Las Palmas this time after another poor piece of play from Modric, but the home side's midfielder fires over from a tight angle! Sloppy again!
15 minLas Palmas continue to grow in confidence here as they move the ball from left to right and find space in the final third. Real Madrid have threatened in wide positions through Bale and Ronaldo, but there has been no real pattern to their play in the opening 15 minutes. Still goalless here.
16 minBOOKING! Casemiro (Real Madrid) is booked for a tug on Montoro.
17 minMesa has a go from distance, but his effort was always straight at Navas. Real Madrid just cannot seem to keep hold of the ball at the moment as Las Palmas continue to make the pitch very small.
20 minYou just get the feeling that the first goal tonight - if there indeed is one - will be vital. Real Madrid are not really in the game at the moment as Las Palmas continue to gather confidence. Vasquez attempts to break away for the visitors down the right, but Garrido commits a tactical foul.
21 minRamos wins a super header inside the Las Palmas box and has every right to ask Ronaldo why he did not go for it! The Portuguese almost stopped when he looked favourite to meet it - strange.
23 minReal Madrid look like a team of individuals at the moment as Bale attempts to drive through the heart of the Las Palmas defence and just runs into traffic. On the contrary, Las Palmas are working for each other and indeed looking dangerous when they break forward. Still goalless in Gran Canaria.
24 minSAVE! Super chance for Real Madrid as Modric slides a wonderful pass into the path of Ronaldo, who attempts to beat Varas with a low strike, but the Las Palmas stopper makes the save!
24 minGOAL! Las Palmas 0-1 Real Madrid (Ramos)
25 minReal Madrid take the lead in the 24th minute as Ramos heads an Isco corner into the back of the net. It was a wonderful leap from the Los Blancos captain and the keeper had no chance at all!
28 minIt has been a strong response from Las Palmas, who continue to find space in wide positions. Montoro takes up a good position down the left and attempts to deliver, but Casemiro is across to make the block. No sign of the home side feeling sorry for themselves after that Ramos goal.
29 minCLOSE! Oh my goodness! Ronaldo comes close to sending Real Madrid 2-0 ahead, but his low strike is just and I mean just deflected wide of the post. Las Palmas need to be careful!
31 minPretty surprising statistic here...
21 - @realmadriden have scored 21 goals from set piece situations in La Liga 2015/16, more than any other side. Strategy.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 13, 2016
32 minBigas tries his luck from a Las Palmas corner, but his effort was always rising over the crossbar. Good chance, but it was never testing Navas. Not sure about the Real Madrid marking there!
35 minLittle over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and Las Palmas continue to look dangerous in the final third of the field. Mesa finds space inside the Real Madrid box and looks to turn away from Carvajal, but the right-back is too strong. It must be said that this first half has just flown past.
37 minReally good stuff from Momo as the Las Palmas midfielder comes back to deal with a dangerous situation just outside his own box, before winning a free kick to ease the pressure on the hosts.
38 minBOOKING! Montoro (Las Palmas) is booked for a late challenge on Casemiro.
41 minLittle under five minutes of the first period remaining and Las Palmas can be pretty pleased with their first-half performance, but they will seemingly enter the interval trailing 1-0 here.
43 minNot an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the last few moments as Real Madrid keep hold of the possession in the build-up to the break. The Las Palmas fans enjoy a poor touch from Zidane on the sidelines though! I suspect the Real Madrid boss will be fuming with his loose touch there.
44 minRamos has a shot blocked as Las Palmas' back four go walkabouts!
45 minHALF-TIME: Las Palmas 0-1 Real Madrid
8.20pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Real Madrid leading 1-0 courtesy of a super Ramos header in the 24th minute. Las Palmas have had chances of their own during an end-to-end affair, but the in-form Yellows have work to do in the second 45 minutes.
8.25pmSTATISTICS! Las Palmas have actually shaded the possession with 51%, while they have had four attempts - two of which have been on target. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have hit the target with three of their nine attempts. Two yellows to report - Casemiro and Montoro in the book.
8.30pmBENCH WATCH! Las Palmas boss Setien has a number of attacking options on his bench tonight, with the likes of Araujo, El Zhar and the evergreen Valeron all capable of making a difference. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have the likes of Jese Rodriguez and Borja Mayoral in reserve tonight.
8.33pmMATCH PIC!
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46 minRESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Las Palmas find a route back into the match? We shall find out! Real Madrid resume the action...
47 min... LAS PALMAS SUB! Dani Castellano has replaced Garrido for the hosts.
49 minYou just get the feeling that Las Palmas need to score the next goal tonight if they are to stand a chance of securing a positive result. Real Madrid have not been great away from home this season, but Las Palmas cannot give them a two-goal lead. Not much to report since the interval here.
51 minDani Castellano breaks down the left for Las Palmas and attempts to poke a low cross towards Willian Jose, but Pepe blocks it behind at the near post. Moments before, Bigas had just managed to edge the ball away from Ronaldo. Both teams are committing plenty forward at the moment.
53 minA floated set piece from Momo causes problems inside the Real Madrid box, but Ramos is above everyone to make the clearance. From the resulting corner, Willian Jose's header is off-target.
54 minRonaldo and Montoro both hit the deck and stay there following a clash of heads!
55 minBOOKING! Isco (Real Madrid) is booked for a heavy challenge on Bigas.
56 minBoth teams have got their handbags out at the moment! Lemos has a go at Ramos!
56 minBOOKING! Lemos (Las Palmas) is booked for clashing heads with Ramos.
57 minThis has suddenly turned a little bit nasty and it has come from nowhere! Both sets of players have clashed and it has raised a few temperatures. The referee just needs to get hold of the game.
59 minIn truth, not too much has happened in this second period in terms of chances and Las Palmas are still very much in the game with more than 30 minutes to play. Real Madrid are labouring here.
60 minBOOKING! Bigas (Las Palmas) is booked for a poor challenge on Carvajal.
61 minREAL MADRID SUB! Kovacic replaces Isco for the visitors.
61 minBOOKING! Pepe (Real Madrid) is booked for pulling Willian Jose to the deck.
62 minSAVE! Navas gets down to keep out a goal-bound effort from his own teammate Arbeloa after the ball had been delivered into a host of bodies. Smart goalkeeping there!
64 minBale gallops into a good position inside the Las Palmas box, but his final effort was always moving wide of the post. We have not seen too much from Bale or Ronaldo in this second period.
65 minCHANCE! Nili breaks the Real Madrid offside trap and looks to be favourite to get there ahead of Navas, but the Costa Rican goalkeeper is again very quick off his line to make the first touch.
66 minCHANCE! Momo sets up Nili inside the Real Madrid box, but the youngster takes too long to release a strike and Navas makes another save. What an opportunity there!
69 minLittle over 20 minutes of football remaining here and Las Palmas are very much the team on the front foot. Real Madrid still lead, but it has been another disappointing away performance here.
71 minCLOSE! Bale's low strike from outside the box just misses the post!
72 minReal Madrid have just taken the sting out of the match with a period of possession, which is just what they need at this stage of the contest. Las Palmas might not have much more in their legs, but the visitors have been far from convincing all night. I think that there is another goal in this one.
73 minLAS PALMAS SUB! El Zhar replaces Nili for the home team.
74 minThe referee goes to speak to the assistant as Las Palmas call for a back-pass when Navas picks it up! It seemed to take a touch off El Zhar and it would be very controversial to call it!
74 minWow! The referee says back-pass and Las Palmas have an indirect free kick inside the box...
75 min... BOOKING! Viera (Las Palmas) is booked for delaying the taking of the free kick!
76 minSAVE! Navas races out to keep out the low strike from Momo!
78 minYou just get the feeling that there is another goal in this match and Las Palmas are very much on the front foot as they continue to work the ball in the final third. Still plenty of time in Gran Canaria!
80 minREAL MADRID SUB! Jese replaces Bale in Real Madrid's second change.
82 minPossession football for Real Madrid at the moment as they continue to run the clock down. Even if Los Blancos secure all the points, questions will be raised about their performance here.
84 minLittle over five minutes of this clash remaining and Las Palmas seem to have run out of legs, which is such a shame. The visitors are preparing to make their third and final change here...
85 min... LAS PALMAS SUB! Dani Garcia is replaced by Araujo for the home team.
85 minCHANCE! Almost the perfect introduction for Araujo as Bigas sets up the striker with an excellent cross, but his header is over the crossbar. What a chance there!
87 minGOAL! Las Palmas 1-1 Real Madrid (Willian Jose)
88 minAnd there it is! Las Palmas have their equaliser in the 87th minute as Willian Jose collects a pass from Momo before finishing into the back of the net. It is a wonderful goal from the striker!
89 minGOAL! Las Palmas 1-2 Real Madrid (Casemiro)
90 minOh my word would you believe it! Real Madrid are back in front here as Casemiro heads a corner into the back of the net from close range. Where on earth was the marking there?!
90 min+1REAL MADRID SUB! Marcelo replaces Modric for the away team.
90 min+1RED CARD! RAMOS!
90 min+2Ramos is handed a second yellow card for a late challenge on Momo!
90 min+3We are into the third minute of added time here.
90 min+4FULL-TIME: Las Palmas 1-2 Real Madrid
9.25pmSo there we have it. The referee brings an incredible match to a close with Real Madrid winning 2-1 at the death - what a finish! Casemiro proves the matchwinner for the visitors, who have closed the gap on second-place Atletico Madrid to four points despite finishing with 10 men following a late red for skipper Ramos. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Until next time!
