UD Las Palmas approached this last 16 cup tie against Atlético de Madrid with an unrecognisable team this season, containing ten home grown Canarian players, against their rivals playing a first team line up, a 'transatlantic' European and world football team.
The first half started with a free kick on the edge of the visitor’s area, in which UD were unable to trouble their rivals’ goal, defended by Moyá. Las Palmas, in keeping with their footballing style, tried to keep hold of the ball, and in the early stages ran the show. However, whenever Atlético de Madrid got forward, there were threatening with five forwards bearing down on the home goal.
A mistake by Aythami, who gave the ball away, was almost punished by Gameiro, but the red and whites’ striker was off target. Koke fired a warning with a shot into the side netting after a quarter of an hour. Hernán replied with a shot straight into the hands of Moyá, and then Koke did get the vital breakthrough, by shooting past home goalkeeper Raúl Lizoain after getting on the end of a series of rebounds, in the 22nd minute.
The game toughened up following the Atlético goal and became a more tense affair, the Madrid team gradually got on top of the yellows, who were desperately holding on to the half time whistle in order to regroup.
The second half resumed with an early strike by Griezmann who left the tie an uphill battle for the yellows, making it 0-2 in the 50th minute. UD Las Palmas found themselves in a catch 22 situation, either they were to fight back, or simply hold back for this weekend’s league encounter with Sporting. Jonathan Viera took it upon himself to get his side back into the tie, but was powerless to affect the result.
This is how the game reached the midway point of the second half, proving to be an uphill struggle for the islanders. Both managers made changes, perhaps with the weekend league games in mind, and given the clear cut scoreline.
Quique Setién gave some playing time to Prince following several weeks on the sidelines, to see if he could build up some fitness in time for the league game against Sporting, a crucial game at this stage of the season for UD Las Palmas.
