Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
Despite being favourites, Atlético Madrid have recently shown weak attacking play and inconsistent results (even their 2:0 victory over modest Vic in the Cup was unconvincing). They have secured only one win in their last four La Liga matches, scoring more than two goals in just one of those. Las Palmas, on the other hand, have changed their manager and secured two important wins, yet their defensive stability still leaves much to be desired. Las Palmas will try to hold firm and avoid conceding too many goals against Atlético Madrid.
Atlético Madrid
This season, Atlético Madrid have faced issues with converting attacking opportunities: over their last five La Liga matches, they average 11 shots per game but just three of those hit the target, scoring more than one goal in only one of six matches. Additionally, they have not been able to boast about their defence lately—consistently conceding in five of their six league fixtures. However, at home, their record against Las Palmas is favourable, with all encounters ending in a win for Atlético Madrid without conceding a goal (four wins with a 10:0 goal difference).
Las Palmas
Under Diego Martínez, Las Palmas have significantly improved their results, adopting a simpler and counter-attacking style. In their last three matches, they have displayed excellent finishing, scoring 11 goals, including seven in the Copa del Rey, albeit against a semi-professional team. Yet, Las Palmas' defence is not particularly disciplined, having conceded 19 goals over 11 rounds (an average of 1.7 per game). Their away form is terrible—one win and four losses in five matches, conceding in all of them.
Atlético Madrid vs Las Palmas Prediction
Considering Atlético Madrid's struggles with finishing and stability, it's likely that they will beat the visitors but not score many goals. Therefore, a bet on the hosts' individual total under 2.5 should be considered.
