Real Madrid dropped points for the second successive game as Las Palmas left it late to rescue a 2-2 draw in La Liga on Saturday.
Zinedine Zidane made five changes to the Madrid side that drew 1-1 with Villarreal midweek as Marcelo’s calf knock was covered by Nacho Fernandez, James Rodriguez lost out to Marco Asensio in midfield, Mateo Kovacic made way for countryman Luka Modric and Alvaro Morata was preferred to Karim Benzema, although the fit-again Keylor Navas was only a substitute.
Zizou’s opposite number Quique Setien, meanwhile, made it clear he would not stand for another performance like the one given by Las Palmas in Wednesday’s 4-1 defeat to Real Sociedad, bringing in seven new faces.
Nacho immediately set about attempting his best Marcelo impression as he won a free kick just outside Las Palmas’ area, which was then swung in and met by Alvaro Morata, but the striker’s header was kept out by a stunning Varas stop.
Mayhem consequently ensued in the hosts’ box, when Gareth Bale released Dani Carvajal, whose cutback was diverted to Morata via a poor Ronaldo touch, yet the striker’s shot amidst a melee of shirts was just about kept out by Varas on the ground.
Las Palmas responded with their first real chance, and a clear-cut one at that, as the ball was chipped over Sergio Ramos and pounced on by Tana, but his flicked volley went straight at Kiko Casilla.
Madrid nonetheless took the lead with 12 minutes of the first half remaining through Asensio. Nacho once more got to the edge of Las Palmas’ box down the left and saw his low cross deflected by Varas, onto the head of the former Espanyol loanee and into the back of the net.
However, Las Palmas showed remarkable bravery to take the game back to Madrid and were rewarded when a cross from the left was headed back across Casilla’s goal for Tana, who took a touch before picking his spot past the goalkeeper for his third of the season.
Bale looked to force the issue in the dying embers of the half, but a shot at Varas’ goal from a tight angle down the right was pushed away by the custodian.
Ronaldo had the ball in Las Palmas' net quickly after the restart, but the goal was chalked off as the No 7 was offside when Bale’s pass deflected into this path in the box.
Sensing changes needed to be made, Zidane brought on Benzema, and the Frenchman almost scored with his first touch as a corner was knocked on him by Raphael Varane, but the ball only bounced off the striker’s shins and into Varas’ gloves.
Benzema did come up with what seemed to be the winner, however, when Morata slipped in Ronaldo with a slide-rule pass. The Portuguese’s shot is then saved by Varas but pounced onto by the No 9, who blasted home the rebound.
All eyes subsequently turned to Ronaldo, who appeared to show his unhappiness with missing his shot before Benzema’s goal and did not rush to celebrate with his teammates.
He was taken off seconds later, although the decision was likelier made with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League only a few days away.
Unfortunately for Madrid, those same eyes stayed on Ronaldo as Tana’s cross was headed onto Araujo, who bundled the finish home. The No 7 was visibly not impressed.
Benzema then had to do better as he peeled off his marker when a cross fell to him at the far post, but he couldn’t keep his volley down.
Madrid had two more openings, but neither were exploited as Carvajal’s cross into the middle of Las Palmas’ box was met by Iscos diving header, which flew just over, before Casilla rushed off his line and out of his box to block the last kick of the game.
Las Palmas 2-2 Real Madrid
Tana 38, Araujo 85 (LP) Asensio 33, Benzema 67 (RM)
Las Palmas: Varas; Michel, Garcia, Aythami, Castellano; Vicente, Roque; Tana, Viera (El Zhar 56), Momo (Araujo 68); Livaja (Lemos 88)
Real Madrid: Casilla; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Nacho; Modric, Kroos, Asensio (Benzema 64); Bale, Morata (Isco 80), Ronaldo (Vazquez 72)
Referee: Estrada Fernandez
