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Tricky task as Madrid visit Las Palmas

Xinhua, March 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Real Madrid face a potentially complicated game when they travel to the Canary Islands to play a confident Las Palmas on Sunday night.

If morale in the Madrid camp has returned following three wins in three games in the wake of the painful defeat at home to Atletico Madrid which ended their title hopes in the BBVA Primera Liga, Las Palmas have also seen a resurgence in form.

Quique Setien' s side have also won three consecutive matches to climb away from the relegation zone, beating Eibar, Getafe and last week taking a merited win away to high-flying Villarreal to move four points clear of the relegation zone.

They have done that in style as well, with only Barcelona producing more passes in recent games, proof of Setien' s desire for his side to survive by playing good attacking football.

It will be tougher against a Real Madrid side who need to maintain domestic form in order to provide a springboard for their challenge in the Champions League after qualifying for the quarter-finals on Tuesday night.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is likely to make some changes to the team which suffered before beating Roma 2-0, with Lucas Vazquez coming back into the starting 11 after his decisive appearance in midweek.

Gareth Bale will also be in the starting 11, while Cristiano Ronaldo continues to lead the attack.

Casimiro looks likely to retain his place in the side where his tough tackling provides a stability in front of the defense, which the more attack minded Tony Kroos is unable to provide.

Dani Carvajal, who was rested in midweek, will replace Danilo at right back, while Pepe is likely to step down to allow Rafael Varene to start.

During a week that the English Premier League announced a cap on prices for travelling fans, ticket costs in Las Palmas should come into focus given that the cheapest ticket for non-season ticket holders has been priced at 90 euros for the game, but despite that high cost the Insular Stadium will be packed for aa game which could either confirm Las Palmas' escape from trouble or Madrid' s return to form. Endit