Atlético Madrid Aim to Bounce Back Against In-Form Las Palmas

As Atlético Madrid prepares to host Las Palmas, they come into this match on the back of mixed results. With five wins, five draws, and one loss, Atlético is currently fourth in La Liga, 10 points behind Barcelona and four points behind Real Madrid. They recently returned to form in the Copa del Rey with a 2-0 victory over Vic, thanks to Julian Alvarez's double, but their recent form in all competitions has been shaky. Defensive mainstays like Jan Oblak and José Giménez, along with key attackers Antoine Griezmann and Alvarez, will be pivotal. However, injuries to César Azpilicueta, Clement Lenglet, Marcos Llorente, and Robin Le Normand may create challenges in defensive consistency.

Las Palmas, on the other hand, have found momentum after a tough start, winning their last three games across competitions. They defeated Valencia and Girona in La Liga and triumphed 7-0 over Ontinena in the Copa del Rey, showcasing their offensive potential. Manager Diego Martínez will likely stick with the team that beat Girona, with key players like Fabio Silva and Alex Muñoz set to lead the charge. Despite recent success, Las Palmas has struggled defensively in previous encounters with Atlético, conceding multiple goals in past matches. However, they’ll draw confidence from their historic 2-1 win over Atlético in November 2023.

Predicted Lineups:

Atlético Madrid: Oblak; Molina, Witsel, Gimenez, Reinildo; De Paul, Koke, Gallagher, Lino; Alvarez, Griezmann

Las Palmas: Cillessen; Rozada, Suarez, McKenna, Munoz; Essugo, Campana; Fuster, K Rodriguez, Moleiro; Silva

Given their recent form, Atlético will look to secure a home win, though Las Palmas’s defensive improvements and rising confidence could make this a tighter contest than expected. A 2-0 win for Atlético seems likely but may depend on breaking through Las Palmas's reformed defense early.