Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed the need for his team to “find an improvement fast” following a 1-1 draw against Las Palmas, which left them four points adrift of LaLiga leaders Barcelona. The match saw Alberto Moleiro score for Las Palmas in the fifth minute, while Vinícius Júnior equalized for Madrid with a second-half penalty. This result marked Madrid’s second draw in their last three league matches, following their initial 1-1 tie at Mallorca.
Kylian Mbappé played for the entire match, taking nine shots but managing only two on target, with an expected goals (xG) rating of 0.51. He has now gone three games without finding the net.
Ancelotti acknowledged the team’s struggles, particularly in the first half, stating, “It was hard for us to find the goal. We had to hang on, suffer a bit.” He pointed out that the team lacked balance and fluidity, making it difficult to regain possession.
Real Madrid, the reigning Spanish champions, started their season with a victory in the UEFA Super Cup, where Mbappé scored. They then encountered early challenges in LaLiga, including dropping points against Mallorca. After a decisive 3-0 win over Real Valladolid, the team faced disappointment again with the Las Palmas draw and is preparing to host Real Betis before a trip to Real Sociedad following the international break.
“We’ve struggled to maintain the solidity we had last year,” Ancelotti remarked. “We can’t look for excuses; we need to improve rapidly with another match approaching on Sunday.” He emphasized the need for clearer strategies on the pitch to provide direction to his players.
In the match against Las Palmas, Ancelotti made four changes to the lineup, bringing in Lucas Vázquez, Ferland Mendy, Luka Modric, and Brahim Díaz, but did not see a significant improvement. He noted the slow play and lack of mobility, which left gaps in their formation.
The coach also dismissed the possibility of adding new players before the transfer window closes, asserting that “the squad is closed.”