Tchouameni's heroics lift Real Madrid to thrilling 2-1 win over Las Palmas

Real Madrid emerged triumphant with a 2-1 win over Las Palmas in a La Liga nail-biter, claiming the league's summit in a late-game spectacle. 

The hero of the hour was Aurelien Tchouameni, whose towering header on his birthday sealed the victory after Javier Munoz had given Las Palmas an early second-half lead.

The turning point occurred when Carlo Ancelotti strategically deployed Tchouameni, a mere three minutes before the French midfielder netted the decisive goal. Ancelotti highlighted the impact of a motivated bench, saying, "I look at the bench, and I have chances to change the dynamic. It's a tool that we have, with such a motivated bench, they bring a lot when they come on."

With top scorer Jude Bellingham serving a suspension, Brahim Diaz stepped into the lineup, and Ancelotti handed Dani Ceballos a rare start in midfield. Despite a first half marked by limited opportunities, Las Palmas, under the guidance of former Barcelona reserves coach Francisco Garcia Pimienta, showcased admirable game, surpassing expectations.

The clash between the league's best defenses finally broke the deadlock early in the second half. Munoz capitalised on a well-executed counter-attack initiated by Kirian Rodriguez and executed by Sandro Ramirez. Madrid responded with Vinicius leveling the score in the 65th minute, courtesy of a well-timed pass from Eduardo Camavinga.

In a bid for the winning goal, Ancelotti made a bold move, introducing Turkish attacker Arda Guler for his La Liga debut alongside Tchouameni. The French midfielder, securing only his second goal for the club, clinched victory with a superb header from Toni Kroos' corner, just six minutes from time.

Real Madrid's proficiency in set pieces, epitomised by Tchouameni's decisive goal, has been a consistent theme in their La Liga campaign. The triumph propelled Madrid to the summit, holding a two-point lead over Girona.

Reflecting on the intense battle, Las Palmas midfielder Munoz acknowledged Madrid's tenacity, saying, "We have to be proud, we competed, congratulations to Real Madrid. They went behind, and we knew they would come forward, we sat deeper, as a result, and they reacted."