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Preview: Granada vs. Las Palmas - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 1 February 2024, 16:09
Las Palmas will be bidding to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they travel to Nuevo Estadio de Los Carmenes on Saturday afternoon to tackle Granada.

The visitors will enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, while relegation-threatened Granada suffered a 2-0 loss to Getafe in their last match at this level of football.

Match preview

Granada are firmly in a relegation battle this season, only picking up 11 points from their opening 22 matches of the campaign, which has left them down in 19th position in the table.

The Andalusian outfit are six points from the safety of 17th position, which is far from disastrous at this stage, but they are currently struggling for form, losing their last three matches against Real Betis, Atletico Madrid and Getafe, failing to find the back of the net in the process.

Alexander Medina's side have only picked up 10 points from their 11 home league games this season, while they have struggled defensively, conceding 44 times in their 22 games, which is the third-worst defensive record in the division.

The reigning Segunda Division champions have been active during the January market, making seven signings in total, including securing a loan deal for Manchester United's Facundo Pellistri.

Granada beat Las Palmas 1-0 when the two teams locked horns in the corresponding match during the 2016-17 La Liga campaign, but Las Palmas won 1-0 when the pair met earlier this season.

Las Palmas will enter this contest off the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Real Madrid, but a successful season has left the team up in ninth position in the table, boasting 31 points from their opening 22 matches.

Los Amarillos are only five points behind sixth-placed Real Sociedad, so a European finish cannot be ruled out, which would represent an excellent first campaign back at this level of football.

La Union Deportiva, who finished second in the Segunda Division last season, have picked up 13 points from their 11 away league matches during the 2023-24 campaign.

Garcia Pimienta's side have the second-best defensive record in Spain's top flight this season, only conceding 19 times, with their campaign being built on strong defence, having scored just 22 times in their 22 games.

Las Palmas have not made any signings during the January market, but there have also been no departures aside from Jonathan Viera, who left by mutual consent in the middle of December.

Granada La Liga form:

L

L

W

L

L

L

Las Palmas La Liga form:

D

L

L

W

W

L

Las Palmas form (all competitions):

L

L

L

W

W

L

Team News

Granada only have one confirmed absentee for this match, with goalkeeper Raul Fernandez remaining unavailable for selection due to a muscular problem.

The squad will be boosted by the returns of Lucas Boye and Martin Hongla, who were both suspended last time out, while Jesus Vallejo and Victor Diaz could potentially overcome fitness problems to future.

Pellistri is expected to make his debut following his arrival from Man United, although the 22-year-old is likely to start on the bench this weekend despite the departure of Bryan Zaragoza to Bayern Munich, with the forward moving to the Bundesliga giants six months than originally planned.

As for Las Palmas, Benito Ramirez is out of the contest due to a tendon problem, while Julian Araujo and Javi Munoz are unavailable for selection due to suspension.

Enzo Loiodice is expected to benefit from the absence of Munoz to feature in midfield, but it might otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Real Madrid.

Sandro Ramirez is set to continue through the middle with support from Alberto Moleiro and Munir El Haddadi in the wide positions, while Kirian Rodriguez will feature in central midfield.

Granada possible starting lineup:

Batalla; R Sanchez, Mendez, Miquel, Neva; Hongla, Ruiz, Villar; Uzuni, Boye, Arezo

Las Palmas possible starting lineup:

Valles; Park, Suarez, Marmol, S Cardona; El Haddadi, Loiodice, Perrone, K Rodriguez, Moleiro; Sandro

We say: Granada 1-1 Las Palmas

This has not been a fixture that has brought many draws in the past, with their last stalemate coming in the Segunda Division in March 2019. Las Palmas are having a strong season, but Granada are capable of causing any side in the division problems, and we can see the points being shared here.

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