Las Palmas v Real Madrid Live Commentary & Result, 13/03/2016, Primera División

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	BAR Barcelona	38	29	4	5	112	29	+83	91	W W W W W
2	RMA Real Madrid	38	28	6	4	110	34	+76	90	W W W W W
3	ATM Atlético Madrid	38	28	4	6	63	18	+45	88	W L W W W
4	VIL Villarreal	38	18	10	10	44	35	+9	64	L L W D L
5	ATH Athletic Club	38	18	8	12	58	45	+13	62	W D W D L
6	CEL Celta de Vigo	38	17	9	12	51	59	-8	60	L W L W D
7	SEV Sevilla	38	14	10	14	51	50	+1	52	L L L W L
8	MAL Málaga	38	12	12	14	38	35	+3	48	W L W L D
9	RSO Real Sociedad	38	13	9	16	45	48	-3	48	W W L D L
10	BET Real Betis	38	11	12	15	34	52	-18	45	W D L L W
11	LPM Las Palmas	38	12	8	18	45	53	-8	44	L D L W L
12	VAL Valencia	38	11	11	16	46	48	-2	44	L L L D W
13	EIB Eibar	38	11	10	17	49	61	-12	43	L D L D L
14	ESP Espanyol	38	12	7	19	40	74	-34	43	W L W L D
15	DEP Deportivo La Coruña	38	8	18	12	45	61	-16	42	L W L D L
16	GRA Granada	38	10	9	19	46	69	-23	39	L W W L W
17	SPO Sporting Gijón	38	10	9	19	40	62	-22	39	W D W L W
18	RAY Rayo Vallecano	38	9	11	18	52	73	-21	38	W L L L D
19	GET Getafe	38	9	9	20	37	67	-30	36	L D W D W
20	LEV Levante	38	8	8	22	37	70	-33	32	L W L D L

A thrilling end to this game sees Madrid take a hard-earned three points against the plucky hosts, whose three-match winning run is ended. Ramos opened the scoring, but Willian Jose thought he had rescued a point against his ex-club. However, Casemiro came up with the goods with a minute left. Two corners, two goals for the visitors, who also survived the late dismissal of Ramos. That's all the time we've got now, thanks for tuning in!

Las Palmas win two late free-kicks, but fail to make anything happen from either of them, with Bigas having a header blocked by Pepe from the latter effort with what must surely be the last kick of the game.

RAMOS IS SENT OFF! A silly second yellow for the defender to pick up as he bundles over Momo, and Madrid are short-handed for the closing stages of this game.

Marcelo

L. Modrić

Modric is withdrawn late on for Marcelo.

Jesé

Assist

Decisive contribution off the bench for Jese to set up what looks like the winner!

Casemiro

Goal

CASEMIRO HAS DONE IT! Jese did excellently to win a corner with a driving run, and it's delivered to the back post by the substitute for the Brazilian to nod into the opposite side!

Momo

Assist

The best pass of the game sets up its most dramatic moment!

Willian José

Goal

WILLIAN JOSE HAS COME BACK TO HAUNT HIS FORMER CLUB! Madrid flub what looks like a routine free-kick, and Las Palmas pounce, with the excellent Momo sliding a superb pass into the area for the striker to finish!

BIG CHANCE FOR THE HOME SIDE! Araujo nearly makes the difference off the bench, getting on the end of Bigas' cross with an aggressive header, but he can't keep it down!

S. Araújo

David García

Araujo has come into the game for the last five minutes, with Garcia departing.

Las Palmas are trying their hardest to open up the Madrid defence, but they're not finding it as easy as they did in the first half. Still, you get the feeling that there are one or two more chances in it for them.

Madrid have abandoned a lot of their attacking intent - not that they ever showed much in the second half. They're clearly happy to ride this Ramos opener all the way to the final whistle.

Jesé

G. Bale

Bale's night is at an end, and it's not too much of a surprise, as he never really got going. He's replaced by Jese for the final minutes as Madrid look to close this one out.

After what seemed like an age, Las Palmas finally take the free kick. It's teed up for Momo, but Navas, not for the first time, is off his line to make a smart save! Good opening that for the hosts.

Jonathan Viera

Yellow Card

Carvajal keeps charging forward before Las Palmas play the ball, leaving Viera to keep resetting the play. However, the referee interprets that as delay of game, and books the winger, to his fury.

Controversy here as it appears that there was a back pass that was picked up by Navas. There appeared to be a deflection off El Zhar, but the decision goes Las Palmas' way, and they have an indirect free-kick deep inside the area.

N. El Zhar

Nili

El Zhar has entered the fray for Nili.

BALE GOES CLOSE! The Welshman has been bubbling with his long-range shooting on a few occasions, and he nearly tests the keeper with a stinger that whistles around the post.

ANOTHER OPENING FOR LAS PALMAS! Momo gets the better of Pepe down the left-hand side, and cuts it to Nili at the top of the box. It's begging for a first-time finish, but he rolls it under his studs, allowing Navas to come off his line expertly once again and block the eventual finish low down!

CHANCE FOR LAS PALMAS! Montoro angles a ball over the top and the flag stays down. Nili is challenged by Navas, but keeps his head to square the ball to Willian Jose. He has to move quickly here with the keeper out of position, but his shot is blocked.

Gareth Bale goes on an adventure down the centre, beating two players in his advance to the top of the box, before lashing a shot wide of the post. Disappointing end to an encouraging burst.

We've had four yellow cards in the 18 minutes since the restart, and it doesn't look like slowing down any time soon. Meanwhile, we finally get a sight on goal as Navas is forced to save a header.

Pepe

Yellow Card

MISTAKE BY PEPE! He lost the ball to Willian Jose, and then pulled the striker back blatantly by the shirt. He was lucky that there was another defender in line with him, otherwise that would have been a red card as the last man!

M. Kovačić

Isco

Kovacic is thrown on for Isco here for the final half-hour.

Bigas

Yellow Card

Bigas joins the yellow-card party for taking a piece out of Carvajal.

Neither keeper has been tested here as we approach the hour mark, which will suit Madrid just fine. They will want a second goal to make sure of it, but they're done a good job of limiting the threat from the opposition that was so present in the first half.

This has turned into a real slog here, with both sides not letting up in any of their challenges. The crowd is also prickly at any perceived injustice, which is affecting the quality of football we're seeing.

Sergio Ramos

Yellow Card

Yellow card Sergio Ramos García

M. Lemos

Yellow Card

Lemos follows Isco into the book for going too aggressively in an aerial challenge with Ramos.

Isco

Yellow Card

Isco takes a chunk out of Bigas, and the crowd didn't like that one. He receives a yellow card for that indiscretion.

Madrid haven't really found a route forward since the restart, as Las Palmas have successfuly muddled things up in the middle of the park, leading to a lot of congestion when los Blancos look to attack.

Montoro has been in the wars this evening, and he stays down with Ronaldo after both players crunched skulls together in a challenge for a high ball. The referee temporarily stops the game to make sure that both are ok, which they are.

The substitute Castellano tries to make something happen down the left-hand side, but it's blocked away for a corner, which comes to nothing. The home team still want to attack here.

Slow start to the second period as both sides settle back into a rhythm after the interval. Las Palmas will surely want to score the next goal in this game, as a 2-0 lead for Madrid might be lights out.

Dani Castellano

Javier Garrido

Castellano has entered the fray for Garrido for the second-half.

Here we go again!

And that will do it for now as Madrid take a one-goal lead into the half-time break. Ramos made the difference with a towering header, his second goal of the season, but the visitors haven't had it all their own way. Las Palmas have threatened, and this game is still very much up for grabs. Stay tuned for the restart in just a bit.

Bale spreads the ball wide to Carvajal, who squares it inside the area. Modric dummies it and tries to let it run through for the Welshman, but there's an interception that stops that move.

All of a sudden, the Las Palmas flank collapses and Ramos is allowed space for a shot, but it's blocked by one of the few players who bothered to turn up to help out on defence there.

A ball from Montoro to Viera down the left-hand side looks promising, but Pepe comes out to assist Carvajal in crowding out the wide man. Moments later, he concedes a free-kick, ending that move.

Las Palmas shepherd the ball back to Varas after an attempted Madrid long ball over the top. They then try to orchestrate a break of their own, but the visitors get numbers back, forcing them to play patiently.

Ángel Montoro

Yellow Card

Oof. That was a sore one from Montoro. His battle with Casemiro continues as he goes for the ball, completely misses it, but rakes his studs down the shin of the Brazilian. Yellow card.

Madrid are looking a little better in the middle now, able to pass their way out of trouble and force Las Palmas to chase the ball a little more than they would like. Modric is at the heart of things.

There's about 10 minutes to go until half-time and Madrid are just edging this here with that opener by Ramos. The game looks tentatively open at both ends, but neither side have been able to apply enough end product.

From the resulting corner, the ball breaks kindly for Bigas about 10 yards out, but his volleyed attempt is wild, and sent over the bar. Worrying for Madrid that he was able to ge a wind-up for a shot from a corner that close to goal though.

Decent look for Nili down the right-hand side, as he races into the area but is run off the ball, and will have to settle for a corner. We haven't seen too much wide play from the home side.

Ronaldo nearly makes it third time lucky as he takes aim once again, but his low effort takes a nick off another player and flashes the wrong side of the post. That was so close to a second.

Las Palmas don't look too worried at conceding the opener. They continue to attack through the middle, and Madrid's midfielders can't get a grip on things when runners come right at them.

Isco

Assist

Isco delivered the telling corner in and Ramos did the rest.

Sergio Ramos

Goal

THERE'S THE OPENING GOAL! Somewhat against the run of play, Madrid take the lead thanks to a tremendous header from Ramos, who leaped highest at the near post to plant the ball into the other side of the goal!

WHAT A CHANCE! Modric pulls the strings in the middle, releasing Ronaldo with a perfectly weighted pass, but Varas is off his line quickly to parry the Portuguese's finish away from goal!

No goals here yet, but given the way that this match has gone, I won't be surprised to see an opener soon. It will more likely than not fall the way of the home side too - they're posing more problems for the defence.

Las Palmas spent 15 rounds of the 2015-16 season in the bottom three, but a trio of wins and clean sheets has seen them make great strides towards safety. They're looking a proper Liga side here against the might of Madrid too!

Next up in the shooting gallery for Las Palmas is Mesa, who angles an attempt in that is swallowed by Navas. Los Amarillos simply look more threatening whenever they break forward.

Casemiro

Yellow Card

Casemiro is the first player to be cautioned after taking down Montoro.

I'd give the edge to Las Palmas in the opening quarter of an hour here, as they've definitely fashioned the better openings. Madrid need to sort themselves out, as they look vulnerable when in possession in deeper areas.

LAS PALMAS THREATEN AGAIN! The home side are giving a great account of themselves - which can't be said about Madrid. The visitors turn the ball over once again, leaving Momo with the chance to shoot, but he blazes over!

Madrid try to hit back down at the other end and it's Ronaldo on the end of another chance. This time, he does find the target, but it's comfortable for Varas, who smothers down low.

NAVAS WITH THE SAVE! Madrid are sloppy at the back as the ball is played through for Willian inside the area, but the Costa Rican keeper is far off his line to block that finish low down!

Ronaldo has the ball and drifts into the centre. He's got Bale peeling away in support, but chooses not to use the Welshman, and instead fires a shot that goes off target. He holds up a hand in apology.

Not a whole lot of action in the early exchanges here as Madrid play the ball around the park without committing too many men forward. Both sides have lined up with expansive 4-3-3 formations.

The delay in kick-off was to present Las Palmas substitue Juan Carlos Valeron with a commemorative jersey for 400 games in la Liga. At 40 years old, he's the oldest player in Europe's major leagues, and was the magician who made that great Deportivo side around the turn of the millennium tick.

Off we go!

Madrid make four alterations to the team that beat Roma, with Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Arbeloa coming in at both full-back spots for Marcelo and Danilo. Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez also make way for Isco and Lucas Vazquez.

There's only one change to the Las Palmas team from their 1-0 win at Villarreal last time out. Former Liverpool man Nabil El Zhar will have to settle for a place on the bench, as Roque Mesa replaces him in the starting XI.

Real Madrid subs: Casilla, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Kovacic, Jese, Borja Mayoral.

Real Madrid (4-3-3): Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Arbeloa; Modric, Casemiro, Isco; Vazquez, Ronaldo, Bale.

Las Palmas subs: Lizoain, Lopez, Arajuo, Artiles, Valeron, Castellano, El Zhar.

Las Palmas (4-3-3): Varas; Garrido, Lemos, Bigas, Garcia; Momo, Montoro, Mesa; Nili, Willian, Viera.

Real Madrid won the reverse fixture 3-1 at the Bernabeu earlier in the season, and you will have to go back to 2002 for the next most recent meeting between the teams - a 7-0 victory for the capital club. However, in that same season, Las Palmas recorded a 4-2 victory over Madrid, a match that current boss Zinedine Zidane played and scored a trademark free-kick in.

After that damaging defeat at home to Atletico in the Madrid derby, los Blancos have picked up three victories on the trot, including a 7-1 hammering of Celta Vigo, and a 2-0 triumph over Roma that secured their passage into the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Still, they are a massive 15 points behind Barcelona at the start of play, even with a game in hand. It already looks like a battle for second with los Rojoblancos.

Los Amarillos have won their last three on the league, which has seen them advance out of the relegation zone by a four-point cushion. Their last defeat was a narrow 2-1 loss to league leaders Barcelona here at Estadio Gran Canaria, where they made the Blaugrana sweat in a manner rarely seen this season. Quique Setien's men are picking up form at just the right time.

Hello and welcome to our live commentary of the Liga clash between Las Palmas and Real Madrid. Los Blancos have seen their title dreams all but evaporate in recent weeks, and want to right the ship against a side looking to put further distance between themselves and the relegation zone. Stick with us for all the action.

Las Palmas v Real Madrid Live Commentary, 13/03/2016

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