Real Madrid stumble for the second time in three games

Real Madrid's slow start to the season continued as the reigning LaLiga and European champions were unable to muster more than a draw against Las Palmas.

Prior to the start of the season, many were quick to crown Real Madrid champions before a pass had even been played. To their defense, it wasn't that much of a stretch given the addition of Kylian Mbappe.

However, the early start to the season has been a struggle.

Drawing in the league opener against Mallorca, Madrid dropped two more points against Las Palmas. A match where had the Las Palmas' strikers been more clinical, could have come away with all three points.

Alberto Moilero put the home team in front after some bit of skill getting away from Eder Militao before slotting the ball across Thibaut Courtois who couldn't get his hand to it.

Particularly in the first half, Las Palmas was the better team overall. They were first to every contested ball and knew what to do with it when in possession. It wasn't simply hoofing it and hoping someone could get at the end of it.

Carlo Ancelotti made some tweaks to start the second half, bringing on Rodrygo and Fran Garcia for Brahim Diaz and Ferland Mendy.

His changes had little effect though Real Madrid did a little more threatening in the attack. That had more to do with Las Palmas tiring than anything else. Even then Jasper Cillissen wasn't forced to make a spectacular save.

Madrid's equalizer came through a penalty after a handball. Vinicius Jr. stepped up and converted. It was one of his lone highlights as he was taken off late in the game.

"It was a bad first half," Ancelotti said. "It was hard for us to find the goal. We had to hang on, suffer a bit.

"The team wasn't balanced, we weren't moving the ball quickly. It was hard for us to win the ball back. Everything that happened against Mallorca. I didn't see an improvement in the team. We must find an improvement fast, and I think we'll find it."

Balance has been the term Ancelotti has been using frequently when asked about his team's struggles.

The glaring differences between the team this season and last is the absence of Toni Kroos and the addition of Mbappe.

While many will point to Kroos' absence, they have plenty of depth in midfield and Kroos wasn' without his faults.

Then there's Mbappe who hasn't hit the ground running as expected, especially given the strength of their early opponents. He's yet to score a goal and hasn't connected with Vinicius Jr. To try to keep the balance Ancelotti has opted to bench Rodrygo who has arguably been their most consistent attacker.

For Real Madrid's sake they better improve quickly. They play their toughest opponent so far over the weekend in Real Betis. Should Barcelona beat Real Valladolid, they face the real possibility of going into the international break seven points behind the Catalans in LaLiga.