Las Palmas enjoying La Liga royalty thanks to Kevin Prince
Las Palmas are bloody good, aren’t they?
Last season, it took them until December to register nine league goals. Now, they’ve matched that total in two games.
“It’s unthinkable!” exclaimed Quique Setién, who had just witnessed his side demolish Granada 5-1. It wasn’t as straightforward as the result suggests, though. Chelsea loanee Jeremie Boga gave Granada some hope by making it 1-1 on the stroke of half-time. But it was too late. Las Palmas had already found their verve – “the second goal was spectacular and I think it was key, admitted Setién.
He was right – the second goal was spectacular. Indeed, all five goals were in their own way. Las Palmas devastated Granada on the break, but not in the typical sense. They invited Granada to press high up the pitch and then with speed and precision, exploited the gaps that were exposed. They could effectively walk the ball into the back of the net.
One of their goalscorers, just like the week before, was Kevin-Prince Boateng. The 29-year-old was undoubtedly Las Palmas’ marquee signing this summer, but there were concerns that his ego could disrupt the unity of the squad. However, The Prince has slotted in seamlessly and his creative quality might just be the missing ingredient that Las Palmas need to really push on.
Of course, we’re only two games into the season, and Quique Setién was quick to reaffirm that “it is impossible to maintain this level of performance” over the remaining 36 games. That isn’t going to stop the players dreaming, though. There’s been plenty of talk of a “Spanish Leicester” occurring, and while it seems inevitable that Las Palmas will fall away, it doesn’t change the fact that they currently sit at the top of the La Liga table for the first time in 27 years.
And the best thing of all? They will stay there for at least a fortnight due to the international break.