UD Las Palmas is gearing up to take on RCD Espanyol this Sunday, December 22, 2024, at the Estadio Gran Canaria, with kickoff scheduled for 18:30. This match holds significant weight for both teams as they close out the year. Las Palmas, currently positioned 14th with 19 points, is striving to distance itself from the relegation zone, whereas Espanyol is desperate for points, still searching for its first away victory of the season.
Under the management of Diego Martínez, Las Palmas has shown some improvement. The team has only lost one of its last five league matches, most recently securing a valuable point against Real Sociedad (0-0) and previously defeating Real Valladolid (2-1). Nevertheless, their home performance hasn’t been stellar, garnering just nine points from 24 possible. This places them as one of the poorest performing teams at home this season.
One notable update for Las Palmas is the absence of Viti Rozada, who is sidelined due to a sprained left knee, which adds to their lineup concerns. The defensive strategies employed by Martínez seem to be yielding results, as his arrival has corresponded with three clean sheets over ten matches—a major leap for the team historically.
Conversely, Espanyol, struggling at the other end of the table, has yet to win away this season, managing only one point from 24 possible. They are currently facing relegation, closely tailing Las Palmas, and must find ways to convert their home advantage during the last match of 2024. The team has not tasted victory since November 30, when they triumphed against Celta Vigo and were eliminated from the Copa del Rey shortly after. Manager Manolo González will also be without José Gragera for this match, heightening their challenges.
The history between these teams adds another layer of intrigue, with 76 official encounters to date. Out of these, Espanyol has taken the edge with 29 victories, compared to 27 for Las Palmas, and 20 matches ending in draws. This long-standing rivalry certainly hints at competitive spirit and high stakes as both sides head onto the pitch.
Looking at their recent results, Las Palmas seems to hold the momentum, though home advantage hasn't paid off as expected. Their record at Estadio Gran Canaria shows the third-worst performance across the league, which they need to rectify if they aim to remain safe from relegation and build upon their recent form.
On the other hand, Espanyol also walks onto the field battling for survival. They have displayed resilience, but the scoreboard reflects their issues. Conceding 29 goals, they must tighten their defense to avoid falling behind early against Las Palmas, who are likely to exploit any weaknesses at home.
The broadcasters for this key encounter include GOL Play, TV3, TV Canaria, and LaLiga TV on Movistar+, providing fans ample opportunity to catch the excitement of this match. With such tight standings and both teams seeking points to avoid slipping closer to relegation, the atmosphere at Gran Canaria is anticipated to be electric.
This match symbolizes more than just points—it showcases the fight each team holds for survival as they head out of the year. Depending on the result, this can either buoy Las Palmas’s efforts to push away from danger or send Espanyol scrambling for answers as they tread dangerously close to relegation. Fans from both sides will be eagerly watching to see how this face-off concludes.
