UD Las Palmas suffered their second defeat of pre-season, losing 1-2 to Saudi Al-Ittihad at the La Quinta ground in Marbella. The match was marked by the sending off of Sergio Ruiz in the 22nd minute.
UD Las Palmas faced their second setback of pre-season, losing 1-2 to Saudi Al-Ittihad in a match played at the La Quinta ground in Marbella. The Canary Islands team, managed by Rubén de la Barrera, could not keep a clean sheet and suffered the expulsion of Sergio Ruiz before half-time.
The yellow team started the match with intensity and tried to impose their style of play, based on possession and passing. However, after 14 minutes, Al-Ittihad took the lead thanks to a goal from Diaby, who beat goalkeeper Caro with a precise shot. Despite the goal, Las Palmas continued to dominate possession but failed to find the necessary depth to trouble the opposing defence.
The situation became complicated for the Canarians in the 22nd minute when Sergio Ruiz was sent off for an action that the Málaga referee Jorge González Sánchez deemed worthy of a direct red card. With one player less, De la Barrera's team maintained their commitment to controlling the ball, although goal-scoring opportunities were scarce.
In the second half, Al-Ittihad extended their lead in the 49th minute. Roger Fernandes took advantage of a ball into space to go one-on-one with Caro and beat him with a cross-shot. Despite being at a numerical and score disadvantage, Las Palmas did not give up and continued to search for a goal. The reward came in the 77th minute when homegrown player Iván Medina reduced the deficit with a powerful shot from outside the area that found its way into the Saudi net.
The match served coach Rubén de la Barrera to continue testing his starting eleven and observe the performance of several players. One standout was 16-year-old Rafa Cruz, who again showed flashes of quality on the wing, linking up with Jesé Rodríguez, who started the match. The latest signing, Jefté Betancor, also made his pre-season debut, wearing the number '7' shirt and having a presence in the area, although he was unfortunate in front of goal.
Another new feature was the participation of Dinko Horkas in the second half. The Croatian, who is awaiting offers to leave the club, played some minutes, suggesting that his departure is not imminent. The yellow entity assures that they will not let the player go unless a satisfactory financial offer arrives.
Al-Ittihad, for their part, showcased their offensive strength with players like Diaby and En Nesyri, managing their advantage throughout the match. The Saudi team also ended with ten men due to the expulsion of Alshmrani in the 90th minute, but this did not prevent them from taking the victory.
The match took place at the La Quinta ground in Marbella, with around 100 spectators present. The Málaga referee Jorge González Sánchez officiated the match fairly, showing yellow cards to Faqehi and Alghamndi from the visiting side.
For UD Las Palmas, this friendly represents another test in their preparation for the season. Although the result was not as desired, the team continues to work on the playing system that De la Barrera wants to implement, with the ball as a key identity. The lack of depth remains a pending issue, but the emergence of young players like Rafa Cruz and Iván Medina invites optimism.
The Canarians' next commitment will be another test in Marbella, where they will continue their preparations ahead of the league start. The yellow fans hope that the team will gain form and that the signings will integrate as soon as possible to face the competition with guarantees.
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