UD Las Palmas travel to the Santiago Bernabéu with the ambition of achieving their first victory against Real Madrid in their home, a feat that no team from the Canary Islands has yet managed to accomplish. After two consecutive defeats, one in the Copa del Rey and another in the league, Diego Martínez’s team is looking to regain the positive dynamic it had before the winter break. “It’s difficult to describe what awaits us, but it’s easy to understand: we have to play our best game, be totally focused, and hope that they don’t have a good day,” commented the coach during of the press conference before the meeting.
For Diego Martínez, facing Real Madrid is above all a privilege. “Playing in these kinds of matches in La Liga means that Las Palmas is in La Liga, and that’s already an honour. There is never a good time to confront them,” he added. Indeed, Las Palmas have never managed to win at the Bernabéu. Their biggest chance came in the 2016-17 season, when they managed to lead 3-1 after an early goal from Isco, thanks to goals from Tana, Jonathan Viera and Kevin-Prince Boateng, but Cristiano Ronaldo responded with a penalty and a header to snatch a draw.
Diego Martínez knows the chances of winning against the big three clubs – Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético – are limited, but he remains optimistic. “We know these games are a bonus, but we have to believe in it and give everything we have,” he added.
Las Palmas, who have already shown their ability to surprise one of the championship leaders by winning at Barcelona, hope to repeat the feat against a Real Madrid on the strength of their recent victory in the Copa del Rey against Celta de Vigo. Although the task promises to be difficult, it is not impossible for an ambitious team determined to achieve results against the La Liga giants.
