UD Las Palmas suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat against Girona at Montilivi this weekend, a result that exposed serious defensive and build-up play issues. According to the analysis published by Pablo Herrera in AS, the Canary Island side drowned in their own mistakes against a far superior opponent.
The Segunda División match showed a Las Palmas team unable to contain the offensive rhythm of the Catalan side. Individual errors in playing out from the back, especially one from goalkeeper José Antonio Caro that gifted the 2-1, dismantled any hope of a comeback. Iván Jaime, who came on in the second half, managed a temporary equalizer for Las Palmas, but the defensive collapse was complete.
Who failed in Las Palmas' defense?
UD Las Palmas' defensive line was easily overcome throughout the ninety minutes. Valentín Pezzolesi had serious problems on his flank, which became a highway for Girona's wingers. Álex Suárez also couldn't stop the opposing attackers, left exposed by the high defensive line the team employed. Juanma Herzog, who came on after halftime, was later substituted after being overrun by Girona's forwards.
Enrique Clemente returned to the lineup after a knee injury but succumbed to the collective poor performance. The team urgently needs to fix these problems if they aim for more than just survival this season. You can check the squad's status on our injuries page.
Why did the midfield fail?
The team's engine, normally reliable, completely stalled in Montilivi. Enzo Loiodice had a dismal match, according to AS's report, being slow in turning and wayward in distribution. His partnership with Kirian Rodríguez didn't work. The yellow captain had one of his worst games, with a multitude of errors uncharacteristic of a player of his quality. When Kirian doesn't perform, the team is incapable of generating play.
Sergio Ruiz came on in the 79th minute to replace Kirian, but his contribution was negligible at the end of the match. This lack of creativity and security in playing out from the back is a problem manager Rubén de la Barrera must address immediately. Possession was useless without clear ideas.
What happened with Las Palmas' attack?
Las Palmas' forwards were practically absent. Taisei Miyashiro glossed over the scoreline with a goal, but it was his only relevant appearance in the entire match. Manu Fuster, according to the analysis, was "missing in action," unable to help in playmaking. Jefté Betancor, with a wide positioning that didn't benefit him, barely touched the ball and was substituted at halftime.
Jesé Rodríguez played desperately, with his teammates failing to find him in attack, and he ended up sent off for a challenge on Izan. Sandro Ramírez, who came on in the 69th minute, had no significant involvement, overwhelmed by the collective disaster. The team needs to find better connection between the lines to make use of their forwards.
What is now expected from Rubén de la Barrera?
The Galician manager has a huge task ahead to correct the errors displayed. The 5-2 defeat is a wake-up call about deficiencies that go beyond a single bad day. De la Barrera made several changes during the match, like bringing on Iván Jaime and Giovanni Bonfanti at the start of the second half, looking for a reaction.
Iván Jaime achieved the temporary equalizer and brought daring and verticality, but he could do little against the rival's offensive onslaught. Bonfanti, however, looked slow in defensive transition. The manager must quickly find a system that better protects his defense and gets the best out of his attacking players. The next fixture, which you can see on our fixtures page, will be a test to see if the lessons have been learned.
The UD Las Palmas squad, currently occupying a mid-table position, has the chance to make amends in their next home game. The team needs points to avoid being dragged into the lower part of the standings. The match against Girona made it clear the road ahead is tough, but the season is long and there is time to correct mistakes. The next league match is scheduled for the following weekend.
