With nine matches remaining in the Primera Division, Madrid are in third place, 15 points behind leaders Barcelona.
Closing that gap is surely impossible at this stage, especially as Barca remain unbeaten in the competition, so the Champions League is now Real’s only chance of silverware at the end of the current campaign.
Zidane’s side meet Juve over two legs in the Champions League quarter-finals, but first face Las Palmas in La Liga and here, Goal takes a look at everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s game in the Canary Islands…
Real Madrid injuries
Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi is the only Real Madrid player ruled out through injury for the game against Las Palmas. The 19-year-old picked up a problem in the very first training session while away on international duty and returned to his club to recover last week. However, he will not be ready to return this weekend.
Real Madrid suspensions
Real Madrid’s first-choice right-back, Dani Carvajal, is suspended for this weekend’s match after picking up his 10th league booking of the season in the 6-3 win over Girona prior to the international break.
Real Madrid potential starting line-up
With Carvajal suspended and Achraf out injured, Nacho is set to feature at right-back for Real Madrid against Las Palmas.
Left-back Marcelo could also be rested ahead of the trip to Juventus, with Theo Hernandez in line to start in his place on Saturday.
In attack, Cristiano Ronaldo is also likely to be given a break ahead of the Champions League clash in Turin, while Isco should start after his superb showing for Spain against Argentina on Tuesday, when he hit a hat-trick in a brilliant 6-1 win for La Roja.
Las Palmas team news
Las Palmas are down in 18th position, six points behind 17th-placed Levante with nine matches remaining.
The Canary Islanders have picked up just three points from their last five fixtures (from draws against Leganes, Barcelona and Deportivo La Coruna) and coach Paco Jemez said this week that this is the worst team he has ever managed.
Jemez, who arrived in December, will be without defender Pedro Bigas and midfielder Gabriel Penalba, who are both injured. Nigerian pair Oghenekaro Etebo and Emmanuel Emenike are both doubtful.
TV channel & kick-off time
Las Palmas versus Real Madrid kicks off at 17:30 local time (the Canary Islands are one hour behind mainland Spain) on Saturday and will be shown live in the United Kingdom (UK) on Sky Sports Football (via the red button) and also on Sky Sports Mix from 17:25 GMT.
In the United States (US), the match is live on beIN Sports and kicks off at 12:30 ET.
Best Opta match facts
Las Palmas have not won in their last six league games against Real Madrid (two draws and four defeats), conceding an average of 3. 33 goals per game. The last Las Palmas victory against Real Madrid in La Liga came on October 3, 2001 (4-2). Current Blancos boss Zidane scored for Real in that match. Paco Jemez has lost all eight of his league games against Real Madrid, with seven goals scored and 32 conceded, all of them coming as Rayo Vallecano coach. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in six consecutive La Liga games for the first time since November 2014 (11). The Portuguese has netted 14 goals in his last six appearances in the competition Isco has been involved in at least one goal in four of his five league appearances against Las Palmas as a Real Madrid player (three goals and one assist).
title: “Real Madrid Team News Injuries Suspensions And Line Up Vs Las Palmas” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-08” author: “Carlos Wyatt”
Zinedine Zidane’s side beat Espanyol 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on February 18, before a 2-1 defeat at Valencia last Wednesday in a rescheduled match and then a 3-2 win away to Villarreal on Sunday as they came back from two goals down to seal all three points at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
‘Jese struggling with the weight of expectation’
Los Blancos are a point ahead of Barcelona at the top of the table and still have a game in hand after their match away to Celta Vigo early in February was postponed due to storm damage at the Galician club’s Balaidos stadium.
REAL MADRID INJURIES
Raphael Varane is out for several weeks after picking up an injury at Mestalla last Wednesday, while Danilo is still not ready to return for Madrid on Wednesday and is not in the matchday squad for the game against Las Palmas.
Gareth Bale picked up a knock in the 3-2 win at Villarreal on Sunday, but the Welshman is fine and is in contention for his second start since recovering from an ankle injury that saw him sidelined for almost three months.
REAL MADRID SUSPENSIONS
Coach Zinedine Zidane has no players suspended for the Primera Division clash at home to Las Palmas on Wednesday night.
REAL MADRID POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP
Zidane is set to rotate his pack for the Primera Division clash at home to Las Palmas as Madrid play their fourth match in the space of just 11 days.
Gareth Bale has recently returned from injury and may well start this match on the bench, while Alvaro Morata could feature from the outset instead of Karim Benzema after the Spain striker headed the winner at Villarreal on Sunday.
Referee row exaggerated - Zidane
In midfield, Casemiro has been rested and is not even in the matchday squad, so Mateo Kovacic should start, while Isco is in contention for a place after he came off the bench to change the game at Villarreal at the weekend.
LAS PALMAS TEAM NEWS
Las Palmas made a superb start to the season in La Liga, but the Canary Islanders have lost their last four games since the signings of former Real Madrid winger Jese and ex-Barcelona midfielder Alen Halilovic in January.
Quique Setien’s side have 28 points and are currently comfortable in 12th place, but could find themselves dragged into a relegation battle unless they can start picking up some results soon.
Angel Montoro, Michel Macedo and Javi Castellano are sidelined for the trip to the Bernabeu on Wednesday, while Marko Livaja is doubtful.
BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS
Real Madrid have never lost at the Santiago Bernabeu against Las Palmas in La Liga (won 28, drawn four). Las Palmas’ last win in La Liga against Real Madrid was in 2001-02 - a 4-2 success at home after 15 years without a victory against Los Blancos. Real Madrid have scored in their last 44 games in all competitions, equalling the best run of a Liga side ever (Barcelona in 1944). Against Villarreal, Cristiano Ronaldo became the Liga player with the most penalties scored (57), surpassing Hugo Sanchez (56).
TV COVERAGE & KICK-OFF TIME
Real Madrid versus Las Palmas kicks off at 21:30 CET at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday and will be televised live in the UK from 20:30 GMT on Sky Sports 2.
