Aurelien Tchouameni Sends Real Madrid Top In Late Win At Las Palmas

Aurelien Tchouameni's towering header earned Real Madrid a late 2-1 victory at Las Palmas and sent them top of La Liga on Saturday. Las Palmas took the lead through Javier Munoz early in the second half but Madrid came back with Vinicius Junior levelling before Tchouameni's winner, on his birthday. Carlo Ancelotti's side lead Girona by two points at the top of the table with 21 games played each, although the Catalan minnows visit Celta Vigo on Sunday and can reclaim top spot.

Champions Barcelona, third, host Villarreal later Saturday, needing a victory to avoid losing ground on Los Blancos after their comeback in Gran Canaria.

Ancelotti brought on Tchouameni just three minutes before he scored the winning goal.

"I look at the bench and I have chances to change the dynamic," the Italian coach told reporters.

"It's a tool that we have, with such a motivated bench, they bring a lot when they come on."

Madrid were without leading goalscorer Jude Bellingham, suspended, replaced by Brahim Diaz, while Ancelotti also handed Dani Ceballos a rare start in midfield.

In a first half of few chances, Las Palmas left-back Sergi Cardona was the biggest source of danger.

The defender was lightly clipped by Dani Ceballos in the area but the referee did not point to the spot, and Cardona smashed narrowly over a few minutes later.

Vinicius had a couple of off-target efforts for Madrid at the other end but Las Palmas goalkeeper Alvaro Valles went largely untroubled.

Promoted Las Palmas, eighth, have exceeded expectations under former Barcelona reserves coach Francisco Garcia Pimienta, and for large periods they gave Madrid as good as they got.

It was a clash between the division's best two defences but the stalemate was broken early in the