Madrid Reacts Late and Stumbles Again

Real Madrid isn't firing on all cylinders, and in the blink of an eye, just three matchdays in, they already find themselves four points behind Barça due to two island slip-ups. They drew in Palma de Mallorca before a faint reaction against Valladolid at the Bernabéu and once again shared the spoils away from the peninsula, this time in Las Palmas. They were victims of a first half to forget and couldn't salvage the game despite a late reaction after the break.

The reigning champions once again lacked the ability to control the match and showed that Kroos' retirement and the dream team attack, at least in terms of names, have left their midfield skeletal, where the game is orchestrated.

Ancelotti experimented with rotations in the first midweek league match, but the result was far from desired. Lucas Vázquez, always reliable; Modric, a guarantee of balance and ball control in midfield; and the commendable Brahim, who earned his starting spot with a goal and an assist against Valladolid in just 20 minutes, faced off against the enthusiastic Canarians from the start, who soon found an extra incentive. There was a notable difference between the activation of the yellow squad and that of the sluggish white defense, which was too slow to defend the play where Moleiro outmaneuvered Militao and placed the ball out of Courtois' reach with his left foot, nestling it close to the post to avoid the Belgian giant's immense reach.

Beyond conceding the goal, Madrid's intensity was laid bare. Their lack of willingness to press and ample space for Las Palmas to construct plays in foreign territory exposed Ancelotti's team, who was restless on the sidelines. It took them over fifteen minutes to get a feel for the game, and although they began hovering around the Canarian area, they were far from offering a sense of defensive solidity. Valverde, always a guarantee of dynamism and energy much appreciated by Carletto, shook things up with a free-kick attempt similar to his effort against Valladolid, though this time he met Cillessen's feline reaction.

The lack of commitment in Madrid's attacking trio was evident as they failed to help disrupt Las Palmas' playmaking. Luis Carrión's team found it too easy to approach Madrid's box, and passing errors began to frustrate Madrid fans unaccustomed to patience. Rüdiger tested Cillessen's reflexes again, confirming long-range shots as Madrid's only route towards their opponent's goal. Their ball circulation was too slow, with an effective retreat from Las Palmas allowing them to comfortably maintain their lead. Ancelotti's visible anger on his way to the dressing rooms wasn't surprising. It's not his first outburst this early in the season.

Brahim and Mendy bore the brunt of Carletto's wrath as he spared his more illustrious players despite a first half best forgotten. Amidst gestures of frustration, Vinicius broke through for the first time but was weak with his left-footed shot straight into Cillessen's hands. The Dutch goalkeeper was also secure against Rodrygo's attempt. Madrid improved after halftime but still faced a scare when Sandro shot high over Courtois.

Las Palmas' physical effort in the first half seemed to take its toll, though Madrid lacked inspiration to untangle themselves from trouble. Tchouaméni missed a clear header from a Modric corner kick when unmarked. Madrid struggled for an equalizer they deserved until fortune smiled upon them with a penalty for an unfortunate handball by Álex Suárez. Vinicius took responsibility despite Mbappé’s imposing presence and converted confidently.

Curiously, despite leveling up which suggested a Madrid surge for a comeback, Las Palmas responded bravely. They tried to reclaim ground from their rivals who ultimately imposed their need to avoid another stumble by besieging the local area. Mbappé led this charge but lacked precision with his left foot on two good individual efforts. As time threatened to run out, Ancelotti called upon Endrick’s luck; however, his first attempt went wide.

The match remained lively into its final minutes without Las Palmas backing down. This was demonstrated by Viti’s disallowed goal due to Jaime Mata’s prior offside. Madrid still had one last chance to avoid another setback but failed to capitalize and returned bruised from another visit. The season has only just begun but patience is already wearing thin for those in white.