Cristiano Ronaldo rescued 10-man Real Madrid a point at the death as his late brace denied Las Palmas victory in a dramatic 3-3 draw on Wednesday.
In a game that had everything, Las Palmas threatened to leave the Santiago Bernabeu with a historic win, having led 3-1 against Madrid and profited from Gareth Bale’s red card until Ronaldo delivered two last-gasp goals.
Los Blancos chose to rest Casemiro, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema for the visit of the islanders, who came into the game on the back of four straight defeats and lined up with ex-madridista Jese Rodriguez on the left wing.
Just 30 seconds in, Alvaro Morata was marginally offside when he flew onto the end of a right-wing cross.
Isco soon made Las Palmas pay the price for their high line at the back, yet Tana turned two Madrid defenders before blasting a shot past Keylor Navas moments later.
Kevin-Prince Boateng was away in the clear down the right of Madrid’s box, but his first-time shot went into orbit, despite the attacker having plenty of time to take a touch and possibly test Navas.
That was that as far as the first half concerned, but the second exploded into life after Gareth Bale got himself uncharacteristically sent off.
The winger clipped Jonathan Viera before flying into a rage as he pushed the midfielder to the ground.
Madrid’s predicament then became a crisis as Sergio Ramos handballed when rolling to stop a Viera shot in the box. Navas guessed to his right correctly but could only push the ball into the roof of his net.
Navas appeared to make amends with a save down low to deny Jese, yet it was followed by a howler, the Costa Rican charging off his line but swiping an air shot as Boateng dinked the ball into an empty net.
Ramos somehow slammed a sliding finish onto the crossbar from point-blank range, before Las Palmas broke away through Roque Mesa, only for Navas to parry the resulting shot.
Ronaldo seemed to be a yard off the pace, but he still managed to thread through Morata for a third offside goal, although neither player appeared offside.
Karim Benzema’s introduction marked all-out attack from Madrid, and the No 9 was quickly teed up in the Las Palmas area. However, he blazed his finish over.
Fellow substitute Lucas Vazquez only had Varas to beat from close range, but his low finish was blocked by the goalkeeper’s legs!
Benzema’s angled finish was also shut down by Varas, with Ronaldo’s rebound being cleared off the line, as the clock began to tick.
However, cometh the hour, cometh the man. Moments after Carvajal’s shot was batted away by Varas, Ronaldo’s cross from the right was blocked by a hand, allowing the No 7 to blast the penalty into the roof of Las Palmas’ net.
That inspired Madrid to stage yet another comeback as Ronaldo powered a header home from a corner with just one minute of normal time remaining.
Real Madrid 3-3 Las Palmas
Isco 8, Ronaldo pen 86, 89, Bale sent off 47 (RM) Tana 10, Viera pen 56, Boateng 59 (LP)
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Nacho, Marcelo; Kovacic (Benzema 71), Kroos, Isco (Lucas 65); Bale, Morata (James 71), Ronaldo
Las Palmas: Varas; Simon, Lemos, Bigas (Aythami 27), Castellano; Mesa; Tana, Vicente, Viera (Halilovic 75), Jese; Boateng (Mateo 69)
Referee: Fernandez Borbalan
