UD Las Palmas lose in pre-season opener to Orlando Pirates
UD Las Palmas kicked off their 2026/27 pre-season campaign with a 0-1 loss to Orlando Pirates in Marbella on Wednesday, July 22. The yellows, led by Rubén de la Barrera, struggled in a scrappy friendly that served as their first real test ahead of the Segunda División campaign, where they currently sit fifth with 73 points from 42 games (20W-13D-9L, recent form DLWDW).
The goal came late, but it came. In the 88th minute, after a defensive lapse, the South African striker pounced on a through ball behind the backline and beat Adri Suárez to seal the win. Earlier, Las Palmas had two clear chances to equalize: a Miyashiro shot that rattled the post in the 83rd minute and a Pezzolesi header that crashed against the crossbar after a Bassinga cross. Beyond the result, the match offered little in the way of headline moments.
What happened in the match?
De la Barrera’s side lined up in a familiar 4-1-4-1, with Iñaki anchoring midfield and Kirian and Fuster operating in advanced roles. The yellows tried to play out from the back, a pattern the coach has emphasized despite the high press from the South African side. The first 30 minutes were promising, with Las Palmas dictating play and nearly opening the scoring in the ninth minute when Kirian’s effort clipped the post.
But Orlando Pirates grew into the game, using higher intensity and better physical conditioning to take control. They exploited defensive gaps-such as Adam Arvelo’s poor shift in the 34th minute-to create chances, though their finish went wide. The first half ended with a tight, low-scoring affair and a Las Palmas side that barely ventured out of its own half, a sign of the adjustments still needed.
In the second half, De la Barrera made eight changes, blooding new signings and youth team players. The team lost cohesion, with frequent turnovers and little creativity. Orlando, meanwhile, failed to truly threaten Adri Suárez, though they did waste another clear chance in the 64th minute when a cross found a striker unmarked only for the shot to sail over the bar.
Why does this friendly matter for UD Las Palmas?
Though pre-season, the match offered clues about the new campaign. On the plus side, the team showed it can play out from the back, with Iñaki and Kirian key in build-up. But the second half exposed physical limitations and a lack of rhythm, especially as new faces struggled to gel.
The coach downplayed the result. A pre-season loss doesn’t define anything, the technical staff noted after the game. What matters, De la Barrera stressed, is continuing to work on cohesion and tactical details so the team can compete in Segunda División, where the aim is promotion. Currently, Las Palmas has scored 57 goals and conceded 40 (+17 goal difference), nine points behind league leaders Racing Santander.
What’s next for the yellows?
After this friendly, Las Palmas faces a tough schedule in the coming weeks. The coaching staff will assess the new signings and youth players who featured in Marbella, such as Victor Villote-who played at center-back-and Acimovic, who led the attack in the second half. The next goal is to build match fitness and iron out details ahead of the official campaign.
Meanwhile, the team remains in pre-season training, focusing on intensity and injury recovery. The Segunda División opener looms, and while this friendly produced no major headlines, it underscored that the road to promotion will be long and demanding. Las Palmas, fifth with 73 points, knows every detail counts in a tight league race.
