Las Palmas vs Zaragoza - Segunda División

The history between Las Palmas and Zaragoza lends this Segunda División fixture an extra layer of spice, and when the two walk out at the home ground on May 24, 2026, recent encounters will be on everyone's mind. He is expected to miss the Community Shield game against Arsenal and the opening Premier League fixture of the season as a result.

Both camps will view the Segunda División meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. When a side is winning 60% of their matches and posting W in their last five, as Las Palmas have, the conversation shifts from form to silverware. The visitors will back themselves to cause problems and will not make the trip expecting an easy afternoon. What happened is that when the team was being defeated game after game, they put more money on the table to solve the problem." It did not work.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. Las Palmas will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Zaragoza must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. But it was a dual role for Rayo because he was also among the top dozen players for blocking crosses and winning possession in the defensive third.

Individual moments of quality could tip the balance. Both sides possess players capable of producing something out of nothing, and a single flash of brilliance may be all that separates them. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Arsenal have already seen one offer rejected and are expected to return with an improved proposal, while Villa continue trying to secure the England defender on a new contract.

The fixture has the feel of a coin-flip, and picking a winner with any conviction would require a braver pundit than most. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 1-1 draw is easy to envisage. With the standings tight and form on the line, this is a fixture neither side will want to lose. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Liverpool's midfield wasn't great last year but I expect Florian Wirtz to have a better season, 100 per cent.