Las Palmas 1-2 Real Madrid: Carlos Casemiro scores last-minute winner

By Lewis Dean

Real Madrid needed a late winner to beat Las Palmas on Sunday

Real Madrid closed the gap on neighbours Atletico Madrid to four points with a dramatic 2-1 win over Las Palmas.

Sergio Ramos gave Los Blancos the lead in the 24th minute with a superb near post header that powered across goal and nestled in the far corner.

But Las Palmas were invigorated after the break and looked to have earned a deserved point in the 87th minute when Willian Jose pounced on a Momo pass before dinking the ball over an advancing Keylor Navas.

However, Carlos Casemiro found himself totally unmarked at the back post to head Real a last-gasp winner shortly afterwards.

There was still time for goalscorer Ramos to get sent off for a second bookable offence as the visitors held on to go four points behind city rivals Atletico Madrid, who are second in the table, and 12 behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.

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Las Palmas remain 15th, just four points above the relegation zone.

Real dominated the first half with 73 per cent possession and led through Ramos' goal after Cristiano Ronaldo was thwarted by Javi Varas.

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Image: Sergio Ramos scored Real Madrid's opening goal but was later sent off

Willian Jose squandered an early chance to give the home side a shock lead in the 10th minute. His opportunity came after Modric tried to flick the ball into midfield only for it to be deflected into the striker's path.

But the Brazilian failed to keep his composure and fired into Navas when he should have done better.

Gareth Bale, who was later replaced by Jese, was quiet operating on the left-hand side and being well attended to by David Garcia. Ronaldo engineered two efforts for himself but was left frustrated that they barely tested Varas. 

Image: Gareth Bale (right) vies with Las Palmas' midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron

Las Palmas were in the ascendancy in the second half and should have levelled in the 65th minute when Momo nutmegged Pepe and played in Nili rather than pull the trigger himself. The delay meant Navas was able to race out and smother the Spaniard's effort.  

Another chance went begging when Momo fired an indirect free-kick into the Real Madrid wall from 10 yards out. The set-piece was awarded when Alvaro Arbeloa was wrongly judged to have passed back to his keeper. 

Then came the late drama as Jose levelled before Casemiro snatched the win for Real.

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