The game was set up for the home team to get back to winning ways and hit good form. Quique Setién went his more usual line-up for the run in to the end of the season with Michel Macedo back following his injury, in search of a win after the defeats in Vigo y Eibar.
The game started with Álex Martínez coming close after a corner. Soon after Rubén Castro tried his luck, as the away team took the game to their opponents and create danger with incisive wing play.
The first chance for the home team fell to Prince following a move started by Jesé, who forced goalkeeper Adán to turn the ball behind for a corner in 17th minute, an piece of play that brought the game to life and injected a spark into the home team who had struggled to get into the match. The Gran Canarian forward looked to link up with the German to try to do damage to the Andalusian team.
The referee disallowed a goal for Betis for offside against Álex Martínez and in under a minute both Prince and Lemos were cautioned. Prince is now out of the game in Bilbao on Friday as he has totted up five yellow cards.
Álex Alegría came close to scoring in the 35th minute when the game was drawing to the end of the first half. Las Palmas were struggling to play their fluent football until Vicente Gómez managed to force the ball past Adán to make the scores (1-0) following a set piece. It was a psychological goal that turned the match on its head.
The second half started in the same way the first half finished. Another goal, this time by Prince who put his team 2-0 ahead and set the game up for a welcome home victory. This was his ninth goal of the season, playing in his more accustomed position as striker.
Las Palmas were suddenly playing much more intensely, fighting hard from attacking positions and showing much more confidence, following the goals that mean virtual safety to quell any doubts there might have been.
From this point Las Palmas played their best football, spurred on by the favourable scoreline, and with the fans cheering them on, who had been vociferous from the word go.
The third goal duly arrived, with a superb strike by Jonathan Viera who got the fans on their feet. He was soon replaced by Mateo to rapturous applause. Pedro Bigas also left the field injured, replaced by David García.
Las Palmas rounded off an excellent performance with Jesé scoring his team’s fourth goal with a penalty, although Rafa Navarro got his team’s consolation goal with a superb strike (4-1).
Las Palmas now stand on 38 points after coming through their bad patch in terms of play and results, and now look forward to the run in in the best way possible, and with tranquility.
