Las Palmas 0 - Real Madrid 1

Las Palmas: Nacho González; Angel, Alvaro, Schurrer, Paqui, Jarni (Eloy 75'); Jorge, Samways, Josico (Pablo Lago 60'); Guayre, Turdó (Oulare 65'). 5-3-2.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Iván Helguera, Karanka, Roberto Carlos; Celades, Flavio Conceiçao (Rivera 73'); Figo (Geremi 90'), Guti, McManaman; Morientes (Savio 46'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Las Palmas: Paqui, Jarni, Turdó for Edu Alonso, Olías, Oulare / Madrid: Celades, Flavio Conceiçao, Guti for Hierro, Makelele, Raúl.

Goals:
0-1. 57. Guti. At second attempt after keeper saved his header from Figo cross.

They always say that the sign of a true champion is that they win the games that they should have lost. On that basis Real Madrid will have no trouble wrapping up this year's league title as they picked up three valuable points to move eight clear at the top of the table. The players though are showing clear signs of tiredness, having returned from a gruelling trip to Turkey midweek where they lost a two goal lead to Galatasaray, and Del Bosque was missing some of his key players, with others coming through fitness tests to make the team. The main absences were Raúl, with a groin strain, Makelele and Munitis, with Roberto Carlos recovering from bruised ribs and Morientes also carrying an injury finally in the starting line up. With Hierro suspended, Iván Helguera dropped back to defensive duties, and Celades and Flavio took over the double pivot position in midfield for the first time together. Flavio in fact was in the starting line for the first time in three months after recovering from his long injury, and Guti came in up front to cover for Raúl. The players wore black armbands in commemoration of ex president Ramón Mendoza who died earlier in the week, and a minutes silence was observed in most grounds throughout the country.

For once Las Palmas had nobody suspended, and Sergio Kresic was only missing the injured Edu Alonso. Jarni came back in against his old side after being pronounced "mentally fit" by his manager, with Turdó replacing Oulare, who after this match was left out of the squad for disciplinary reasons after failing to turn up for training once again (he claims the club owes him money). Kresic had never won against Real Madrid in seven previous outings with other teams, and his team started off nervously, allowing their opponents to take the upper hand. Nacho González stood fast in goal though, saving from Figo and Morientes, and gradually Las Palmas settled down. Inspired by youngsters Guayre and Jorge, and with Jarni gaining confidence down the left wing, the Canary Island side laid siege to Casillas's goal, and the young keeper was called upon to keep out shots from several players, including one fantastic save from Josico.

With five minutes to go to half time Guayre claimed a penalty for a possible foul by Flavio, but referee Ansuategui Roca waved play on much to the anger of the fans, some of whom actually waited for him outside the ground after the match. Del Bosque replaced the struggling Morientes at the break, bringing on Savio. Still Las Palmas continued to dominate, but once again they lacked the killer touch, with Schurrer, Josico and Guayre all missing chances in the first five minutes after the restart. Against Real Madrid that can be a fatal error, and after Guti and Savio went close, Figo got free on the left and swung over a cross for Guti to score at the second attempt after González blocked his first header. Kresic threw on two forwards Oulare and Eloy, but with Helguera and Karanka in top form Madrid were not going to let this one go. They hung on for their first away win in four games to take one step closer to their first league title in four years. Las Palmas drop down to fourteenth, still quite safe but out of the race for the UEFA spots. Kresic will have to wait another year.