Real Madrid bounced back from successive defeats to beat Las Palmas 3-0 in La Liga at the Bernabeu tonight.
The visitors held firm until the 41st minute when Casemiro picked out the bottom corner with a pintpoint header.
Marco Asensio put Real two up after the break with an unstoppable left-footed half-volley into the top corner for his seventh goal of the season in all competitions.
After twice hitting the woodwork himself, Cristiano Ronaldo teed up Isco to round off the scoring on 74 minutes with an inch-perfect cross.
Relive how Madrid secured a much-needed victory, courtesy of our minute-by-minute updates below.
Good evening! It has been a whirlwind day of Premier League action and your football feast does not have to end there as Real Madrid aim to get back to winning ways in their La Liga clash with Las Palmas. Team news on its way shortly...
REAL: Casilla; Vallejo, Ramos, Nacho, Marcelo; Casemiro, Kroos; Asensio, Isco, Ronaldo; Benzema
Subs: Moha, Hernandez, Modric, Vasquez, Llorente, Mayoral, Ceballos
Subs: Moha, Hernandez, Modric, Vasquez, Llorente, Mayoral, Ceballos
LAS PALMAS: Raul; Michel, Ximo Navarro, Lemos, Bigas, D. Castellano; Vicente Gomez, J. Castellano, Vitolo, Aquilani; Calleri
Subs: Chichizola, David Garcia, Samper, Remy, Momo, Hernan
Subs: Chichizola, David Garcia, Samper, Remy, Momo, Hernan
The spotlight is on Zinedine Zidane tonight and he has made a big call by dropping Luka Modric to the bench. Marco Asensio comes in to give Real a greater attacking threat, with Isco perhaps moving into a deeper midfield role.
In the only other change from midweek's Champions League disappointment at Wembley, 20-year-old centre-back Jesus Vallejo replaces Achraf Hakimi in defence for his first La Liga start for the club.
There is still no sign of Gareth Bale, although the Welshman is thought to be nearing a return from his hip injury. Dani Carvajal, Mateo Kovacic and Raphael Varane all also still unavailable.
Las Palmas manager Pako Ayestaran - formerly assistant manager to Rafael Benitez at Liverpool and the man who, unsuccessfully replaced Gary Neville at Valencia, makes three changes from the side which lost 3-1 at home to Deportivo La Coruna last time out.
Loic Remy is axed to the bench despite scoring his fourth goal of the season - in his first La Liga start - against Depor. That could have something to do with a training ground spat that the former Chelsea and Newcastle striker was allegedly involved in yesterday.
According to Marca, Moroccan winger Oussama Tannane was doing press ups when Remy hit a ball in his face, leading to a brawl which had to be separated by teammates. Tannane is missing from today's Las Palmas squad, although he was already ruled out through injury.
Elsewhere, midfielder Jonathan Vieira has been ruled out for a month with an arm injury. Barcelona loanee Sergi Samper joins Remy on the bench as Javi Castellano, Liverpool flop Alberto Aquilani and an extra defender - Ximo Navarro are brought in for this difficult trip to the captail.
Jonathan Calleri, who scored one goal in a season-long loan at West Ham last term, leads the line for the visitors. He has two goals for the season in 10 La Liga starts, only half as many as Remy whose quartet of strikes have most come off the bench.
Real had not lost in 58 matches against promoted sides before their 2-1 defeat to Girona last Sunday, since a 2008 reverse to Almeria, who had Alvaro Negredo on the scoresheet. It was another former Middlesbrough striker who was their tormentor at Girona - Cristhian Stuani with the equalising goal.
Things went from bad to worse for Madrid on Wednesday as they were comprehensively beaten by Tottenham - their first Champions League group stage defeat since 2012 and their heaviest in nine years since being downed 2-0 by Juventus.
That result also marked the first time since January that Madrid have suffered back-to-back defeats. In that case, it was Sevilla in the league and Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey. They have not lost successive games in La Liga since November 2015.
As a reminder of how dominant the Spanish and European champions have been in the recent past, the defeat at Girona brought to an end Real's 13-match top-flight away winning streak, the longest ever by any team in Europe's top five domestic leagues.
It is the first time during his already trophy-laden spell as manager that there is some pressure on Zidane. In his job, you are only ever a couple of bad results away from a crisis, but the Frenchman is confident that he can inspire a response.
He told reporters after the Girona defeat: "We lost three points, and we are eight behind, but nothing is going to change. Real can come back, we will have better days and our rivals will drop points."
Following yesterday's results, Real have dropped to fourth in La Liga, below Atletico and Valencia and 11 points adrift of leaders Barcelona. At this stage last season, they were top of the table, two points clear of the Catalonia giants.
It has been their home form which has derailed this Real team, which streamrollered everybody last term. However, there are signs that they are finding their feet now at the Bernabeu - winning their last two La Liga games without conceding, after three without victory.
After the disappointment to Tottenham, an unusually defeatist Ronaldo was critical of Real's transfer policy, feeling that they have not replaced key players that left in the summer such as Pepe, James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata - the scorer of Chelsea's winning goal against Manchester United today.
He told reporters: "If you ask me, sincerely, every team would miss their big players. Obviously, Pepe was a great player, Morata, James - all the players who left. The made us stronger, obviously. I'm not saying the players who arrived don't also have this role, but they're much younger. It's their first season here with us."
Ronaldo must take some reponsibility himself for Real's dip in form. Don't get me wrong, the Portuguese superstar is one of the best players of all time, but he only has one goal in six La Liga appearances this season, which is way short of the number he has hit for the last five seasons.
Scoring goals in general has been a problem for Real. They are widely viewed as one of the best attacking units in the world, but this campaign they have been outscored by the likes of Real Sociedad, Real Betis and Celta Vigo, and no individual has bagged more than three times.
Karim Benzema is untouchable with some sections of the Madrid fanbase but it cannot be long until there is greater scrutiny over his goal return. The Frenchman has four goals in his last 22 appearances in all competitions. No wonder Real are believed to be looking at Harry Kane.
On paper, tonight appears the perfect opportunity fo Madrid to get back to winning ways, and find their shooting boots. Las Palmas have lost their last six league matches and have the division's joint-worst defence, having conceded 25 goals in 10 matches.
After replacing Manolo Marquez, who lasted only six games in charge, Ayestaran has only won one of his five matches at the helm - a 4-1 victory over Deportivo in the first leg of their Copa del Rey tie. He is still yet to pick up a La Liga point.
With Remy on the bench and Vieira on the treatment table, Ayestaran has only fielded two players who have scored in La Liga this season - Calleri and Vitolo. Madrid showed against Spurs that their defence can be vulnerable, but Las Palmas probably don't have the weapons to cause too many problems.
Around 10 minutes until kickoff in the Spanish capital. Madrid face city rivals Atletico after the international break so will be desperate to rediscover some form, and jump above them in the tabe before that derby in a fortnight's time. A win today would see Real go above Atletico on goal difference.
Sanchis was a former Real Madrid defender who played nearly 150 games for the club between 1965 and 1971, winning the European Cup and four La Liga titles. He passed away last week, at the age of 79.
HEAD TO HEAD: Las Palmas took a point from the Bernabeu last season and were minutes away from snatching three. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the final five minutes to secure Real Madrid a 3-3 draw, after Gareth Bale had been sent off.
Only Malaga keep Las Palmas off the foot of the La Liga table. An unlikely victory today would lift them out of the relegation zone, and identical twins Javi Castellano and Dani Castellano will hope to play their part in a famous result. That could confuse Madrid when it comes to marking at set pieces...
PREDICTION: Las Palmas have never won a league game at the Bernabeu and they are the ideal opponent for Madrid to get over this slump. I expect the European champions to win 3 or 4-0.
KICKOFF: Las Palmas get us underway in their yellow strip, with Madrid in their famous white...
It has been a quiet start with Las Palmas having most of the ball calmly at the back. They will want to keep this game scoreless as long as possible to get the crowd on Real Madrid's back.
CHANCE! Glorious chance for Benzema as Ronaldo sends him clean through on goal, but he shows a distinct lack of confidence by hesitating on the ball and poking tamely at goalkeeper Raul.
Good work from Isco down the left and he stands a cross up into the box. Only Asensio is in the area but he cannot generate the power or direction from his header from 15 yards out.
Las Palmas are operating with a three-man defence - a change of shape from Ayestaran. That should be enough to occupy Benzema, but problems may arise from Ronaldo and Asensio getting in behind the wing-backs.
The visitors are moving the ball quite nicely when they have it, but with only Calleri, who does not cut a formidable figure, in the middle they don't have many targets in the box when they work it wide.
CHANCE! A really good opportunity for the visitors to take the lead as Vitolo's clever first touch gets him away from Ramos and sets up a shot which Kiko Casilla does well to save.
Isco is at the heart of everything for Madrid in this early stages. He commits a man and then tees up Benzema for a shooting chance, but the out-of-form Frenchman passes it up and his attempted through-ball to Asensio is cut out by Dani Castellano.
There is a break in play as Vitolo takes a breather, having been caught on the ankle by Sergio Ramos. The Atletico Madrid loanee is the one being tasked of getting closest to Calleri whenever possible.
CLOSE! Ronaldo makes his presence felt for the first time by shrugging off the challenge of Bigas with his back to goal, spinning and shooting into the side-netting. Great strength, but the finish was lacking on that occasion.
Marcelo knocks a cross far too deep and it goes out for a goal kick. The Brazilian is making his 300th La Liga appearance for Madrid tonight - the second non-Spaniard to pass that landmark after Roberto Carlos.
The visitors string together a great move with some really intricate passing in the middle of the park, and then spring on Madrid but they can't make the most of it as Michel is pulled up for offside.
Madrid are awarded a fortunate free kick, right on the edge of the box for handball against Ximo Navarro. Ronaldo used to pop these in with his eyes closed but sends the set piece straight into the wall.
Zidane has brought Asensio into the team this evening at the expense of Modric, but he has stuck the youngster out on the right wing and he is yet to have much involvement so far.
End-to-end stuff here as Toni Kroos catches a first-time shot sweetly, only for Ronaldo to get in the way. Las Palmas then counter with a four on two situation, but a poor pass is intercepted by the full debutant Vallejo.
WOODWORK! Ronaldo's left-footed curler has Raul beaten but flicks off the outside of the post on its way behind for a goal kick. This game has started to come alive in the last few minutes.
SHOT! Madrid work it nicely between Isco and Marcelo down the left and after the cross is cleared to Nacho, the defender lets fly on his swinger of a left foot, not too far over the crossbar.
The visitors are very comfortable on the ball at the back, but are too eager to jump into tackles. A needless lunge from Lemos gives Ronaldo another free-kick opportunity, but the wall does its job again.
CHANCE! Marcelo continues to be a good outlet down the left and he whips in an excellent cross to the near post, where Ronaldo makes clean contact with a header but directs it straight at Raul.
Isco delivers back-to-back corners but Navarro jumps highest to win the header on both occasions. He has slipped into this team seamlessly, with the change of formation working so far for Ayestaran.
SHOT! The ball sits up really nicely for Marcelo to run onto, but he slices his left-footed volley a few yards wide of the post. It would have been a screamer if it had gone in.
CHANCE! Benzema is guilty again from a fantastic position as Asensio drops a cross perfectly onto his head, but the striker fluffs his contact eight yards out, succeeding in only glancing the ball into the defender Lemos.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-0 LAS PALMAS (CASEMIRO)
Sighs of relief across the Bernabeu as Madrid get a breakthrough before half time. A Madrid corner is flicked on by Calleri at the near post and Casemiro adjusts his body really well to direct his header back across goal and past Raul for his third of the season.
On the balance of play and the amount of chances created, that lead for Madrid is probably deserved, but there has not been a huge gulf in class between the two teams, in two thirds of the pitch at least.
YELLOW! First booking of the game as Isco is late sliding in on Vitolo.
HALF TIME: REAL MADRID 1-0 LAS PALMAS
It has not been the walkover that many were expecting for Real Madrid, even considering their back-to-back defeats, but they do lead at the interval thanks to Casemiro's well-taken header.
It needed somebody from outside the forward line to step up because Benzama and even the great man Ronaldo look short of confidence in front of goal, Benzema especially with the Frenchman passing up two golden chances in that half.
Las Palmas held their own for much of the opening half an hour, creating one excellent chance when Casilla saved from Atletico Madrid loanee Vitolo. They were penned back in the final 15 minutes of the half and couldn't hang on, but Ayestaran should be pleased with how his side have moved the ball.
The crowd at the Bernabeu were beginning to get a little restless before Casemiro broke the deadlock and Zidane will be hoping to get those demanding fans off his back by turning this into an authoratative victory.
In the other dugout, Pako is just as desperate for a result and might turn to Remy off the bench after the hour mark. Remy, who has four goals in only one league start this season, would offer the visitors a greater goal threat, and their play until the final third so far has been pretty good.
STAT: It is over 1,000 miles from Las Palmas's Gran Canaria home to the Santiago Bernabeu - a very long trip for the away fans. To put that into context, Madrid is actually closer to Manchester than it is Gran Canaria, so fair play to those Las Palmas fans who have travelled!
KICKOFF: Real Madrid resume the action, with both sides unchanged from the break...
The hosts have begun this half on the front foot. Casemiro drives into the box but Bigas stands up tall to make a good tackle. The Brazil captain threw himself to the floor but, rightly, no penalty was forthcoming.
Nacho gets to the byline and picks out Isco on the edge of the box. The Spaniard's volley probably wasn't on target anyway but it takes a big deflection and goes behind for a corner.
Navarro brings the ball out well from the back to start an attack which leads to a cross over Calleri - the lone Las Palmas shirt in the Madrid box. The visitors are sitting deeper in this second half and finding it harder to get up in support of the striker.
Excellent offside call from the linesman to flag Kroos from Ronaldo's through-pass. Raul was out of his goal quickly to quell the danger, anyhow, and Benzema scuffed the rebound.
Las Palmas want a penalty for a tug on the shirt of Vitolo from Casemiro. There is no doubt that the Brazilian had hold of Vitolo, but the Las Palmas man could have stayed on his feet and got a shot away.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 2-0 LAS PALMAS (MARCO ASENSIO)
You will not see a sweeter strike than this all season, from any league across any continent. Raul punches a free kick out to Asensio on the edge of the box, and the Real Madrid prodigy meets it with a thunderous first-time strike with his left foot, right into the top corner. Absolutely unstoppable.
That is Asensio's seventh goal of the season - and undoubtedly the pick of them. It gives Madrid a cushion which means they should be able to see out this game with relative comfort, but Las Palmas will be frustrated that the goal came only a couple of minutes after their penalty shout.
Madrid are playing with a bit more confidence now and Isco and Marcelo exchange a cheeky one-two, with the return pass setting the raiding full-back up for a volley which he slices wide from a tight angle.
SAVE! Kroos lines up a shot from range which takes a big deflection. Raul is completely wrong-footed but gets a very strong left hand to the ball, diverting it behind for a corner.
YELLOW! Kroos can have no complaints about being the first Real player to enter the book tonight after going through the back of Michel.
SUBSTITUTION: Ayestaran brings on Remy, who really should have started this game, as a replacement for Vicente Gomez, with the midfielder having made very little impression on the game.
SUBSTITUTION: Zidane turns to his bench for the first time to spare Casemiro of the final 23 minutes, with Marcos Llorente coming on in his place - a sign that Real's manager thinks this game is done.
CLOSE! Ronaldo is desperate to get on the scoresheet, drifting in off the right and dropping his shoulder to beat two defenders and fire a dipping shot which is agonisingly close to the far corner.
Madrid have been guilty of giving the ball away on the edge of their own box a couple of times in this half, but Las Palmas are not ruthless enough to punish them. They can be easy on the eye in possession, but certainly lack a cutting edge, Pako Ayestaran's side.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 3-0 LAS PALMAS (ISCO)
It might be the goal that he is craving, but Ronaldo has just produced a wonderful assist for Isco, crossing on the run for the Spanish playmaker to side foot with his left foot past a motionless Raul from eight yards out.
SUBSTITUTION: Lucas Vasquez gets the final 15 minutes in place of Benzema, who really could have done with staying on to get a goal which would surely improve his lowly confidence.
WOODWORK! It looks like it could be one of those days for Ronaldo, whose left-footed drive clips the top of the crossbar following a well-timed pass from Vasquez.
SUBSTITUTION: Zidane makes his final change, bringing on Dani Ceballos for Kroos in midfield. The young Spaniard was absolutely outstanding in the European Under-21 Championship last summer, but this is only his fifth La Liga appearance for Madrid.
YELLOW! Ceballas is straight into the action as Ximo Navarro goes through him with a tackle which earns him a deserved booking.
The offside flag spares Calleri's blushes, as the striker really should have converted from Vitolo's cross. With the goal gaping, he tries to take a touch but it is so heavy that Ramos can clear.
SUBSTITUTION: Aquilani is off as Hernan Santana gets a brief run out at the Bernabeu.
After failing to pose an attacking threat for much of the second half, Las Palmas are threatening a consolation now. They have had a couple of half chances without giving Casilla much to worry about.
Navarro goes on a brilliant run from the back, skipping past three Real Madrid players only to see his cross towards Calleri picked off by Vallejo, who has been very solid on his first La Liga start.
Nacho fizzes in a decent cross towards the run of Ronaldo at the near post, but Raul is off his line to collect at the second attempt while the Portuguese lies on the deck knowing it just isn't to be this evening.
There will be THREE minutes of stoppage time. Can Ronaldo add some icing to the cake?
FULL TIME: REAL MADRID 3-0 LAS PALMAS
Real return to winning ways with a comfortable win over Las Palmas, on a night which will always be remembered for Marco Asensio producing a goal which will undoubtedly go down in the La Liga archives. Los Blancos climb above Atletico into third, but the gap to Barcelona is still a hefty eight points.
Thanks for joining Sports Mole for this one from the Spanish capital. You can read our report on the action here, with Asensio deservedly stealing the headlines. Until next time, goodbye!
