Prediction: Real Madrid vs Las Palmas

Verdict: Real Madrid win to nil

Best Odds: 6/5

Bookmaker: Luckster

Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways on Wednesday evening, Real Madrid will welcome Las Palmas to the Spanish capital.

Real Madrid

Starting with the hosts, putting in a nightmare performance over the weekend as they suffered a 3-1 drumming at the hands of bitter local rivals Atletico Madrid, Los Blancos are certainly seeking an immediate response here. Suffering their first defeat since opening up the 2023/24 campaign, Carlo Ancelotti’s men should be smelling a golden chance when they return to the Bernabeu here. Getting their Champions League adventure underway with a last-gasp 1-0 victory at home against German outfit Union Berlin last week, the former AC Milan boss has still seen his superstar squad win seven of their opening eight appearances across all competitions. Marking their return from September’s international break with a turnaround 2-1 win against Real Sociedad, Real Madrid are rightfully tipped as a runaway contender on Wednesday evening. Landing a routine 3-0 romp when they last met Las Palmas back in 2018, Los Blancos will be seeking a repeat performance here.

Team News

Recently returning to training, Real Madrid are hopeful that attacking talisman Vinicius Junior can play some part here. However, Los Blancos will once again be without the duo of Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao.

While England international Jude Bellingham might have seen his free-scoring flurry come to an end away at Atletico over the weekend, the former Borussia Dortmund superstar will have a key role to play on Wednesday evening.

Las Palmas

As for the visitors, gaining a string of plaudits last season as they clinched their La Liga return, Garcia Pimienta’s side simply have their sights set on avoiding a relegation scrap this time around. Managing to claim what was an essential boost over the weekend as they snatched a 1-0 victory at home against Granada, Los Amarillos are now desperate to try and find some top-flight stability. However, quickly gaining a reputation for their extended issues in the final third and bagging just a single strike from their previous five outings, the Yellows will be more than aware that they face a heavyweight challenge here. Hit with that routine 3-0 drumming when they last met Los Blancos back in March 2018, Wednesday’s guests are without a win from their previous seven meetings against the former La Liga champions. With that run stemming back over the past 22 years, Las Palmas are rightfully tipped as a landsite underdog in midweek.

Team News

Shown a second-half red card against Granada over the weekend, Las Palmas will be unable to call upon defender Mika Marmol on Wednesday evening. The 21-year-old will be joined on the sidelines by Fabio Gonzalez, Benito Ramirez and one-time Everton misfit Sandro Ramirez.

Making a season-long loan switch from Barcelona this summer, former LA Galaxy full-back Julian Araujo will feature here.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides last met back in March 2018, Real Madrid picked up a routine 3-0 victory at the Estadio Gran Canaria.
• Los Blancos are unbeaten in their previous seven meetings against Wednesday’s guests – a run that stems all the way back to March 2001.
• Las Palmas have bagged just a single strike in their previous five La Liga appearances.
• Despite drawing a blank against Atletico over the weekend, Jude Bellingham has still notched seven goals in his last nine outings for club and country.
• Real Madrid have suffered just a single La Liga defeat at the Bernabeu since March 2022.

Conclusion

Suffering a 3-1 drumming in the Madrid derby last weekend, Los Blancos are certainly seeking an immediate response here. Smelling a golden chance when they return to the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening, the Spanish heavyweights have continued to gain a fearsome reputation for their domestic success on home soil. With Las Palmas notching just a single strike from their previous five La Liga appearances, the top-flight returners should be bracing themselves for a monumental task in midweek. Hit with a routine 3-0 drumming when they last met Ancelotti’s side back in March 2018, we are expecting a similar outcome here.

Verdict: Real Madrid win to nil

Best Odds: 6/5

Bookmaker: Luckster