RSD Alcala
Las PalmasBy Kelechi Balogun — Football expert specializing in European and American leagues
Both sides made coaching changes in mid-October, and now they meet in the Copa del Rey. Alcalá are stuck in a five-match winless rut, while Las Palmas have just ended a similar drought. Can the cup fixture help cement the fresh starts, or will the higher-division outfit once again struggle against a lower-tier opponent?
RSD Alcalá have collected just eight points from eight Segunda Federación outings, managing two wins alongside four defeats. On their own turf, they’ve netted ten times in five matches, but eight of those came in the opening victories over Talavera (3–0) and Gimnástica Segoviana (5–2). Since then, the picture has darkened: a 1–3 loss to Navalcarnero, a 1–2 reverse against San Sebastián de los Reyes, and a goalless draw with Real Madrid Castilla. In those last three home games, the attack has dried up to a mere two goals.
The club parted ways with Vivan Dorado, the man who guided them into the fourth tier, and handed the reins to Jesús Muñoz. His tenure has yielded just one point from two matches. In his debut against Real Madrid Castilla, his team missed a penalty; against San Sebastián de los Reyes, they took the lead from a corner only to concede twice in three minutes. The cup tie at El Val offers a chance to erase the disappointing start to this new chapter.
Las Palmas compete in Segunda, but after 11 rounds they sit on 14 points with a goal difference of 14:19. A five-game winless run cost Rubén de la Barrera his job, with Juan Manuel Rodríguez stepping in on an interim basis. Following a 3–0 thrashing at Castellón, the islanders edged Real Sociedad B 1–0 thanks to an early Jesé strike. However, the visitors created enough chances to earn a draw, so talk of defensive improvement remains premature.
On the road in the league, Las Palmas have beaten Ceuta (2–0) and Cádiz (1–0) but lost to Girona (2–5), Eibar (2–3), and Mallorca (1–3). They’ve scored in every away fixture, yet have shipped 11 goals with an average expected goals against (xGA) of 1.55. Injuries compound the problems: Iñaki González is missing from midfield, Vití and Enrique Clemente are out in defence, and Sandro Ramírez is unavailable up front. A year ago, Las Palmas crashed out of the Copa del Rey in the first round, losing 1–3 to Extremadura.
All three of Las Palmas’ away defeats came against Segunda heavyweights Eibar, Girona, and Mallorca. Against weaker sides like Ceuta and Cádiz, they won without conceding. The coaching change has snapped a five-match winless streak, which should boost confidence. Alcalá, meanwhile, haven’t won in five games, have scored only twice in their last three home matches, and have lost two of those. The gulf in class is significant, and even with possible rotation, the visitors should secure a comfortable victory. Pick: Las Palmas -1.5 handicap.
Four of Alcalá’s five home fixtures have featured at least three goals. The same pattern holds for three of Las Palmas’ five away matches: they’ve found the net in every road game but have repeatedly made costly defensive errors. The quality gap should gift the favourites plenty of chances, yet the hosts are capable of exploiting their opponent’s vulnerabilities. Pick: Over 2.5 goals.
The editorial prediction is provided for informational purposes only and should not be treated as a direct call to action. Every reader should do their own analysis before deciding on a bet.
Las Palmas should win this comfortably, and by a small margin at that. The away victory is the clear and safe call here.
The match is scheduled for October 27, 2026, at 20:00 local time, and will be played at El Val, the home stadium of RSD Alcalá.
The main prediction is that Las Palmas will cover a -1.5 handicap, meaning they are expected to win by at least two goals.
Las Palmas is the favorite due to their higher division status (Segunda) and recent win, while Alcalá is struggling in the fourth tier with a five-match winless streak.
Alcalá is winless in their last five matches, with only two goals scored in their last three home games, and they recently appointed a new coach, Jesús Muñoz, who has earned just one point from two games.
Yes, Las Palmas are missing midfielder Iñaki González, defenders Vití and Enrique Clemente, and forward Sandro Ramírez due to injuries.
The prediction is over 2.5 goals, as four of Alcalá's five home games and three of Las Palmas' five away matches have seen at least three goals.