Las Palmas Team Analysis 2024/25: Tactical Flaws & Road To Recovery Under Diego Martínez

At this stage of 2024, things are looking a lot different for a Las Palmas side that boasted one of the most impressive defensive records in La Liga earlier in the year.

They made their presence known from the outset of the 23/24 season, frustrating teams across the country with their passing proficiency and ability to deny their opposition any meaningful time in possession of the football.

Guided by García Pimienta’s positional play philosophies, Las Palmas was certainly looking likely to cement its position within the top flight for years to come, but a significantly worrying winless streak of 23 games has left fans wondering where it all went wrong.

Los Amarillos saw Pimienta’s early tactical brilliance being picked apart as the season wore on and teams grew accustomed to their weaknesses.

The former Barcelona youth coach opted for a move to Sevilla before things could become distressing.

Having narrowly missed out on promotion to La Liga with Real Oviedo, Luis Carrión ultimately stood out as a candidate to emulate Las Palmas’ ball dominance and attack-minded style.

But after an embarrassing winless start to the 24/25 season, it is evident that Carrión’s football ideologies were not aligned with what made the club so tactically successful over the last couple of seasons—leading to his swift sacking after just nine matches.

With the Gran Canaria-based club ready to welcome Diego Martínezs appointment, it is clear that for their new successor to succeed, they must find a way to reinvigorate their strengths and mitigate some weaknesses that have plagued their 24/25 season thus far.

This tactical analysis and team-focused scout report will portray some of the reasons why Las Palmas has witnessed such a dramatic fall and provide insight into their switch in tactics this season.

Our analysis will also examine some ways in which Martínez can get the most out of his new squad, placing more faith in some of the shining lights that have stood out in relative darkness.

Problems With García Pimientas Positional Play

Positional play, or Juego de Posición, has become a key component over the years in the Spanish game and was a philosophy that Pimienta relied on heavily throughout last season.

It focuses on the short, intricate passing sequences synonymous with a more technical style of play, understanding your players abilities, and creating a shared culture that emphasizes moving the ball around to great effect.

These fundamental principles were the basis for Las Palmas’ possession-based style, especially when you understand that the less time your opposition has with the ball, the less chance they have to invoke their own offensive game plan and harm your defensive structure.

This worked well for Las Palmas from the start of the 23/24 season, as their rapid and accurate ball progression was used to break the lines quickly.

The opposition was startled by their intelligent off-the-ball movement and capacity to manipulate defensive positioning.

But for Las Palmas, the most critical turning point would have to be their vulnerability when their opposition can commit to pressing high from the outset, denying them enough time or space to function within their comfortable system.

Adding in elements of uncertainty and panic has forced Las Palmas to stray away from what made them so successful as of late, with Alaves here shown to be fully committed to forcing Las Palmas back towards their own penalty area, forcing the goalkeeper to go long and more often than not cede possession.