Vinicius Junior penalty earns Real Madrid a point at Las Palmas

Real Madrid needed a Vinicius Junior penalty to snatch a 1-1 draw at lowly Las Palmas.

Real headed to Gran Canaria confident of picking up a first away win of the season against a side without a victory since February.

But they trailed for more than an hour to Alberto Moleiro’s early goal, and despite a late rally had to settle for a point.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinícius had already squandered presentable shooting chances when the hosts took a shock lead after only five minutes.

Moleiro received the ball on the left of the Real penalty area from former Sheffield United forward Oliver McBurnie.

He burst through a couple of weak challenges before rifling an angled drive across Thibaut Courtois and inside the far post.

Las Palmas goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen pulled off a stunning save low to his left to claw out Federico Valverde’s effort from a free-kick.

Mbappe ran at the home defence for the first time midway through the first half, but his tame effort took a deflection and was easily gathered by Cillessen.

Dutchman Cillessen then tipped an awkward long-range effort from Antonio Rudiger around the post to keep his side ahead at half-time.

Frustrated Real boss Carlo Ancelotti made a double change at half-time, sending on Rodrygo and Fran García for Brahim Díaz and Ferland Mendy.

Vinícius got a shot away shortly after the interval but Cillessen was able to make another comfortable save at his near post.

Rodrygo then cut in from the left and drew another save from Cillessen with a low drive.

Yet Las Palmas should have doubled their lead moments later when Sandro burst through and rounded Courtois only to lift his finish over the crossbar.

When Cillessen repelled an Mbappe shot from outside the box the ball looped up for Vinícius, but he planted his header wide.

Then a corner from Luka Modric found Aurelien Tchouameni, who made a horrible mess of a free header which bounced into the turf and over.

But Real got the equaliser after 69 minutes when Alex Suarez was penalised for handball in a goalmouth scramble and Vinicius calmly tucked away the penalty.

Mbappe went in search of a winner but after cutting inside onto his left foot he skied his shot over the crossbar.

Las Palmas had the ball in the net through substitute Viti two minutes from time but Jaime Mata was flagged offside as Real ended up hanging on for a point.