The yellow team had to make great defensive sacrifices, even having to improvise in central defensive positions. Thanks to their efforts and Cillessen’s crucial interventions, the score remained level despite the adversity. For more than an hour, the islanders played with one man less, making the draw a valuable result on their return to Gran Canaria.
The first half had two distinct phases, defined by the moment before and after Las Palmas’ opening goal. The team approached the match with authority, using their passing game to take control and push their opponents back toward their own goal.
Viti was the first visiting player to attempt a shot, around the 20th minute. His right-footed effort was saved by goalkeeper Hein, who deflected the ball for a corner.
Las Palmas gained confidence, and just a minute later, they took the lead through Sandro, with a crucial deflection off defender Javi Sánchez. The Gran Canarian striker attempted a shot from outside the box, and the ball ricocheted off the local defender, creating an awkward trajectory that caught Hein off guard.
The 0-1 lead should have settled Martínez’s players, but their joy was short-lived as the match suddenly took a dramatic turn. Valladolid also found the net in the 24th minute, but the referee and his assistants ruled the goal out due to an offside position by Anuar. Then, in the 28th minute, the game reached a turning point: a misplaced pass in Las Palmas’ own half led to Scott McKenna’s straight red card as the last defender.
With a narrow lead but down to ten men, Diego Martínez reshaped the defense by bringing on Juanma Herzog and sacrificing McBurnie. The momentum shifted towards Cillessen’s goal, although Valladolid had another goal disallowed for offside—again by Anuar.
The situation worsened at halftime, as defender Mika Mármol had to be replaced due to an ankle injury, making way for Bajcetic, who took on a defensive role. With 45 minutes still to play, Las Palmas faced a tough battle to protect their advantage.
The second half remained a struggle for Las Palmas, and at the hour mark, Valladolid finally broke through. A cross into the box was finished from close range by Juanmi Latasa, leveling the score at 1-1 with half an hour still to play.
The final minutes were nerve-wracking for UD Las Palmas, as Valladolid pushed forward relentlessly, sending numerous crosses and shots toward Cillessen’s goal. Fortunately, none managed to beat the Dutch goalkeeper, securing a hard-fought point for the visitors
