Real Madrid visit the Canary Islands to face Union Deportiva Las Palmas, who managed to stay in LaLiga last season thanks to a superb first half of the year. Madrid will be trying to earn a convincing away win after their somewhat shaky start to the 2024-25 season. The Kylian Mbappe-Vinicius Jr partnership is still a work-in-progress, so the two players will try to keep improving their chemistry on the field ahead of the upcoming FIFA break.

Real Madrid are in midweek La Liga action on Thursday as they travel to the Canary Islands to face Las Palmas. Madrid will make their second trip away from the mainland on Matchday 3 after travelling to Mallorca for a 1-1 draw to open up their 2024/25 domestic campaign. Carlo Ancelotti's side head into Thursday's game having secured a 3-0 home win over Real Valladolid on Sunday. Three second-half goals, including Endrick's first for the club, ensured Madrid recorded their first win of the new La Liga season.

They were forced to come from behind on their previous visit to Gran Canaria, winning 2-1 back in January, before Las Palmas embarked on a wretched second half to the 2023/24 season. They eventually finished 16th and parted ways with Garcia Pimienta in the summer. Las Palmas' primary goal under new boss Luis Miguel Carrion is survival, and they've started the new season with a point from their opening two games.

Team News and Lineups

Former Manchester United starlet Adnan Januzaj is dealing with a muscle injury and is set to return to action after the September international break. Pejino is also expected to return next month as he continues to nurse a hamstring issue. There's British influence in Las Palmas' squad, with Scotsmen Oli McBurnie and Scott McKenna both poised to start for the hosts on Thursday.

Las Palmas predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Cillessen; Suarez, McKenna, Marmol, A. Munoz; J. Munoz, Rodriguez; Park, Moleiro, Sandro; McBurnie.

We should expect some rotation from Ancelotti on Thursday, although the Italian will not be able to call upon injured pair Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga. Arda Guler is set to benefit from Bellingham's absence, with the Turkish international making a rare start last time out. Guler could keep his place in the team, while Endrick will be pushing for a start after scoring off the bench on Sunday. Luka Modric could come into Madrid's midfield for his first start of the season, while Ferland Mendy is returning from his one-game suspension.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Las Palmas (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Modric; Rodrygo, Guler, Vinicius; Mbappe.

Match Preview

La Liga's best had their troubles when visiting Las Palmas last season, but the Gran Canarians are poised to be more of a push-over this time around. Mallorca had joy in the second half against Madrid's superstars to open up the season, and the hosts should have some success against a team that's continuing to bed in Kylian Mbappe up top. There are bound to be a few systematic growing pains, especially when defending the counter-attack. However, it's hard to envisage Scott McKenna and company living with the overwhelming talent at the visitors' disposal in attacking areas. Madrid should be securing a comfortable away win on Thursday.

Ancelotti's Pre-Match Press Conference

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will make two changes to his starting line up when Los Blancos face Las Palmas away in La Liga on Thursday. Though there are two games in four days for the league holders, Ancelotti confirmed at his prematch press conference to preview today's tie that there won't be rotations just yet.

“We have a lot of resources and the idea is to make a lot of changes. When the Champions League starts, the calendar will be tight. You can count on that,” Ancelotti stated. “The idea is not to make many changes until the first [international] break, but then, when the Champions League starts and the calendar tightens, we will start thinking about rotations,” he also added at another point of his sitdown before the media. From the hosts, in what is a late night 9:30 PM kick off in Spain, the Italian expects a competitive game “as always”. “La Liga, at the moment, is showing very competitive matches in every way. With intensity, despite the heat, and it being the beginning [of the season]. Tomorrow will be intense... and open, because Las Palmas likes to play football, to have the ball and they will want to do it,” he predicted.

Picking up four points from a possible six so far, Ancelotti won't tinker much with the side that has drawn 1-1 away at Mallorca and beat Real Valladolid 3-0 at the Bernabeu last weekend. This means that Thibaut Courtois lines up in goal, though Lucas Vazquez comes in at right back for Dani Carvajal. After sitting out his suspension for a late, reckless red card at Mallorca, Ferland Mendy returns at left back while Antonio Rudiger and an Eder Militao great against Real Valladolid, and who Ancelotti is back to his best, are the central defenders.

“He has returned to his best version,” Ancelotti said about the Brazilian. “Showing continuity, solidity and understanding with Rudiger.” “His long pass is very precise and that will help us a lot, because the strikers we have are very fast. It's time to adapt to playing more vertically, something that is a matter of time.”

In midfield, and in front of pivot Aurelien Tchouameni, Fede Valverde partners captain Luka Modric, who comes in for Arda Guler in Jude Bellingham's place. Up top, there is the biggest alteration of all. Rewarded for his strike against Valladolid, Brahim replaces Rodrygo to form an attacking tried with Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe.

Real Madrid First XI Vs. Las Palmas: Courtois; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Tchouameni, Valverde, Modric; Brahim, Mbappe, Vinicius

How to Watch

The Gran Canaria Stadium hosts the Galacticos 2.0 in this game week 3 clash. Kylian Mbappe will be hoping to get off the mark for Real Madrid on Thursday as Los Blancos travel to the Canary Islands for a tricky test away to Las Palmas. With new signing Mbappe failing to score for Madrid in their opening two fixtures, it's been left to the likes of fellow Galacticos Rodrygo and Kendrick to hit the target and ensure Los Blancos have an unbeaten record coming into this, their third fixture of the new La Liga season.

They face a Las Palmas side that have claimed under new boss Luis Miguel Carrion have yet to win under new boss Luis Miguel Carrion, having drawn at home to Sevilla on the opening weekend of the campaign before losing away at Leganes last Saturday. Las Palmas take on Real Madrid at Gran Canaria Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 29. Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. CEST local time, making it a 3:30 p.m. ET, 12:30 p.m. PT start in the US; an 8:30 p.m. start in the UK and a 5:30 a.m. AEST kick off in Australia on Wednesday.

Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game as it happens, wherever you are in the world.

This match is available to stream in the US via ESPN Plus, which has live English- and Spanish-language broadcast rights for La Liga in the States. ESPN's standalone streaming service costs $11 a month or $110 for an annual subscription.

La Liga broadcast rights in the UK are once again with Premier Sports, which will be showing a minimum of five live matches per week from Spain's top league on its dedicated La Liga channel. This match will be shown on Premier Sports 1. A subscription to just Premier Sports' dedicated La Liga channel costs £8 a month. You can also get the channel via a full subscription to Premier Sports, giving you access to all of the networks' channels, which have the UK broadcast rights to Scottish Premiership matches, BKT United Rugby Championship and Investec Champions Cup rugby, plus NHL and NASCAR. A full Premier Sports subscription costs £10 per month for Sky and Virgin TV customers. You can also get Premier Sports through Amazon Prime Video as an add-on for £15 a month.

TSN is the rights holder for live coverage of La Liga matches in the region, with select fixtures being shown on its linear channels, and a wider selection of games being shown on its TSN Plus streaming platform. TSN Plus is a direct-streaming service that costs CA$8 a month and also offers coverage of PGA Tour Live golf, NFL games, F1, NASCAR and the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments.

Footy fans Down Under can once again watch La Liga fixtures live on BeIn Sports, which holds the live broadcast rights in Australia for Spanish top-flight matches. BeIn Sports is available in Australia for AU$15 a month or a yearly commitment of AU$130.

Key Players

Real Madrid will be looking to their star players to secure the win, especially Kylian Mbappe who is yet to score for the club. Mbappe will be looking to break his duck and get off to a winning start to the season. However, he will need to be careful of Scott McKenna, who is a key player for Las Palmas. McKenna has been a rock in defense and will be looking to shut down Mbappe and the rest of the Real Madrid attack.

Previous Meetings

Real Madrid have not lost to Las Palmas for nine consecutive games, with seven wins and two draws, and have kept four clean sheets in these games. These teams have faced each other on 12 occasions, of which 9 games have ended in favour of Real Madrid, one victory for Las Palmas and two draws, so the locals will go all out to get three points.

Conclusion

This is a match that Real Madrid should win, but they can't afford to take Las Palmas lightly. The home side will be looking to pull off an upset and get their first win of the season. It will be a fascinating encounter, and we can't wait to see how it unfolds.

This match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two teams with contrasting ambitions. Real Madrid will be looking to continue their dominance, while Las Palmas will be desperate for a win to get their season back on track. With the two teams having contrasting styles of play, this match will be a clash of styles. The encounter is sure to be a closely fought contest, with both teams looking to secure a crucial victory.