Real Madrid overcome Las Palmas thanks to late Casemiro goal

Brazilian midfielder Casemiro's late header gave Real Madrid a 2-1 victory at Las Palmas where Sergio Ramos was sent off for the 20th time in his career.

Captain Ramos had put Madrid in front midway through the first half by heading home a corner from Isco, but Las Palmas looked to have grabbed a point when top scorer Willian Jose pounced on an error from Mateo Kovacic after 87 minutes.

The home side were rocked just moments later however by Casemiro's first goal for Madrid, who held on for three points despite Ramos being dismissed in the closing moments for a second bookable offence.

Zinedine Zidane's side tightened their grip on third place thanks to the win and lead fourth-placed Villarreal by 10 points, but looking upwards they are still 12 points behind Primera Division leaders Barcelona.

Las Palmas hosted Madrid on the back of a three-game winning streak that took them clear of the relegation zone after spending the majority of the season inside it.

Zidane rested Marcelo and gave Alvaro Arbeloa a rare start, while the French coach rewarded Lucas Vazquez for his performance as a substitute in the 2-0 win over Roma by starting him alongside Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo in attack, and left James Rodriguez out of the squad.

EPA/Elvira Urquijo A.

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Las Palmas forward Willian Jose had an early chance to give the hosts the lead when the Madrid defence opened up, but goalkeeper Keylor Navas came out quickly to block.

Madrid struggled to find their rhythm and their only chances from open play were two efforts from Ronaldo, one a hopeful attempt from outside the area which went well wide, the other a tame shot that Javi Varas gathered comfortably.

It took a well delivered set-piece for Madrid to go in front in the 24th minute. Ramos leaped highest to meet Isco's outswinging corner and sent a glancing header into the roof of the net.

Las Palmas continued to look dangerous on the break and Pedro Bigas was not far from levelling, sticking out a leg to meet a cross and sending the ball a couple of feet over the bar.

There was little flowing football to savour in the second half, as the game was frequently interrupted for fouls and clashes. Isco was shown a yellow card for elbowing Bigas, and Ramos had a bitter exchange of words with Las Palmas centre-back Mauricio Lemos. Willian Jose then appeared to tread accidentally on Pepe's outstretched ankle, prompting an angry reaction from the defender, who was later booked for a foul on Willian Jose and will miss Madrid's league game with Sevilla as a result.

Las Palmas began to put Madrid under pressure, and again Navas had to be alert to keep out what would have been an own goal from Arbeloa. The goalkeeper later gave away an indirect free-kick inside his penalty area for picking up a back-pass from Arbeloa, but Las Palmas could not make the most of the opportunity, Casemiro getting in the way of the shot.

Willian Jose finally got the better off Navas when substitute Kovacic gifted the hosts possession in his own half from a free-kick, but just as the home supporters were celebrating the prospect of a point against the Spanish giants, Casemiro appeared at the near post to nod in Jese's corner.

Ramos soon departed the scene, the dismissal an all-too-familiar occurrence in his 11-year career with Madrid.