La Liga | Gameweek 20

Jan 19, 2025 at 3.15pm UK

Estadio Santiago Bernabeu

Real Madrid vs Las Palmas

Match preview

Real Madrid have played four times since their last league game, a 2-1 win over Valencia at the start of 2025, when Carlo Ancelotti's men were reduced to 10 men and trailed 1-0 in the closing stages at the Mestalla before coming from behind to claim a vital three points.

Los Blancos defeated Deportiva Minera and Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey this month to book their place in the quarter-finals, but were beaten 5-2 by Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Super Cup last weekend.

Real Madrid currently sit second in La Liga, five points clear of third-placed Barcelona and a point behind leaders Atletico, who are in exceptional form, and Diego Simeone's men could be four points clear at the summit by the time the game kicks off.

Los Blancos will certainly be in contention for the title this season, but they also have their work cut out in the Champions League, where they sit 20th in the standings ahead of their final two league games against Red Bull Salzburg and Brest.

Real Madrid have won eight and lost just one of their nine league games at the Bernabeu this term, boasting the second-best home record in the league, while they have never been beaten by Las Palmas in front of their own supporters, so there is some history on offer for the visitors on Sunday afternoon.

Las Palmas endured an incredibly difficult start to the 2024-25 season, but there have been many positive signs since Diego Martinez was appointed head coach in October, with the Spaniard winning eight, drawing one and losing four of his 13 games in charge.

Los Amarillos are 14th in the La Liga table, with a record of six wins, four draws and nine defeats from their 19 games to date, and their tally of 22 points puts them six points clear of the relegation zone.

Pio Pio have avoided defeat in four of their nine away league games this season, winning three of them, while they held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in August.

Las Palmas also have a recent draw at the Bernabeu to their name, with the two sides playing out a 3-3 draw in March 2017, but the visitors have not started 2025 on a positive note, going down 4-0 to Elche in the Copa del Rey on January 5 before losing 2-1 at home to Getafe in the league last weekend.

Martinez's side now have the league to focus on and they have an impressive record of finding the back of the net this term, scoring 24 times in their 19 games, more than the likes of Osasuna, Real Betis, Sevilla, Valencia and Real Sociedad.

Recent Performance

Real Madrid La Liga form:WLWDWW

Real Madrid form (all competitions):WWWWLW

Las Palmas La Liga form:LWWDWL

Las Palmas form (all competitions):WWDWLL

Team News

Real Madrid will be without the services of Vinicius Junior and Luka Modric on Sunday through suspension, while Fran Garcia will be assessed after being forced off injured in Thursday's 5-2 Copa del Rey win over Celta.

Eduardo Camavinga's injury has also been confirmed, with the Frenchman facing at least three weeks on the sidelines.

Los Blancos played 120 minutes against Celta - far from ideal ahead of Sunday afternoon's kick-off - and the fitness of the players will have to be assessed before any concrete decisions are made.

However, Thibaut Courtois is certain to be back between the sticks, while Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy should all be recalled.

David Alaba will also be back in the side for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in December, but Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are both out for the rest of the season with serious knee problems of their own.

As for Las Palmas, Daley Sinkgraven and Viti will miss out through injury, while Marvin Park and Jose Campana are major doubts for the away side this weekend.

Adnan Januzaj came off the bench to score against Getafe last time out and the former Manchester United forward is an option to start, but Martinez is unlikely to shuffle his pack again.

Jaime Mata and Marc Cardona are also likely to be named among the substitutes, with Fabio Silva leading the line; the 22-year-old missed a penalty against Getafe but has scored five times and provided two assists in 14 La Liga appearances this term.

Possible starting lineup

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Brahim

Las Palmas possible starting lineup:

Cillessen; Herzog, Suarez, McKenna, Marmol; Essugo, K Rodriguez; Sandro, Munoz, Moleiro; F Silva