Las Palmas shows their dominance in Ipurua and returns to the top spot (0-1)
UD Las Palmas showed their dominance in Éibar. The yellow team won 0-1 against the armero squad on Monday, with a magnificent goal from Sandro Ramírez from a direct free-kick. With this score, the players led by García Pimienta climbed four positions in the standings, reached the top of the Second Division, and will face the last three matches with hopes of direct promotion.
The presence of Kirian Rodríguez in the starting lineup of UD Las Palmas was the most relevant novelty among the decisions made by García Pimienta in preparation for the Ipurúa match. The Tenerife native paired up with Loiodice in the midfield, in a match where Éibar proposed pressure from the start in the visitors' field.
Las Palmas took a few minutes to find their place in a match that was uncomfortable due to the physical demands of their opponent, who faced the match on Monday as the leader of the competition.
The first opportunity of the match came for Éibar in the 22nd minute. Corpas once again crossed the ball towards the box and his teammate Jon Bautista anticipated it by deflecting it in front of Valles. The shot missed by centimeters near a post.
It was the only noteworthy chance of the entire first half. Éibar tried harder against a UD Las Palmas that would receive bad news after half an hour. Their captain, Jonathan Viera, was treated on the sidelines for discomfort in his left thigh. And at the 37th minute, he asked for a replacement after realizing that the injury was increasing.
Kirian Rodríguez received the captain's armband, Moleiro changed his role in the match, and Oscar Clemente joined the game to replace his relieved teammate.
The situation changed at the beginning of the second half when, after a personal action, Sandro was fouled by Venancio on the edge of the box. Sandro himself made the best decision of the night, with a powerful shot that eluded the wall, and the goalkeeper couldn't reject despite touching the ball before it went in.
With 0-1, Las Palmas finally approached the top of the standings. And Valles collaborated in this because in the 54th minute, the goalkeeper from La Rinconada managed to deflect a close-range shot from Javi Muñoz, who was seeking the tie. Valles raised his hand in time and diverted the ball to a corner.
The final stretch of the match became the most direct football of Éibar against a UD willing to sacrifice themselves to protect Sandro Ramírez's valuable goal. They had to defend the 0-1 with everything they had, and they succeeded.
Álvaro Valles rejected the most delicate moment, in the 91st minute, after a dangerous free-kick from Arbilla. And moments later, Nolaskoain headed the subsequent corner out. But the night in Éibar was entirely yellow, and the three points traveled to Gran Canaria.
And the excitement continues next weekend with the reception of Villarreal B.
