From the fateful 4-J against CD Tenerife in the epitaph of tears and recognition when resurfacing from a UD Las Palmas with a totem of La Feria. Jonathan Viera against everyone. The 32-year-old captain heads into his ninth campaign in yellow with the pressure of driving the Lamborghini to the First Division station. Seventy days after retiring injured (minute 42, minute in which the planet stopped), due to a muscle injury in the second leg of the promotion playoff against the chicharreros (affected the abductor), he returns to the parthenon of dreams. This Saturday, from 10:00 p.m. (Movistar LaLiga), Pimienta’s symphony challenges Real Zaragoza of Juan Carlos Carcedo, Juanjo Narváez, Mollejo and Giuliano Simeone –son of the Atlético coach–.
The seven preseason games – with a balance of two wins, one loss and four draws – did not clear up all the unknowns. Missing a nine. The hiring of Marc Cardona, Vitolo, Sidnei and Álvaro Jiménez become the ’21’ squires in the new kingdom. The sports management, led by Luis Helguera and reinforced with the presence of David Rodríguez ‘Deivid’, accelerates by two relief wickers. Gunpowder and adrenaline. The hiring of striker Sandro Ramírez (SD Huesca) and right-winger Marvin Olawale Akinlabi Park (Real Madrid Castilla) will provide the definitive shine.
“I don’t know UD’s goal, mine is to move up”, acknowledged Víctor Machín ‘Vitolo’, in his presentation in a full declaration of intent. Five years later, since November 2017, the double ‘V’ society returns. From Vitolo to Viera. «The goal is the maximum, the one required by the Las Palmas shield. We will try to improve the figures of last year, which we were very close to and it was hard. But it is also encouraging to receive the support of the faithful, ”Jonathan reflected a few dates ago.
Beat the ‘Matador’
While UD completes the squad –the summer market window closes on the night of Wednesday, August 31–, Óscar Pinchi, Ale Díez and Erick Ferigra appear in the exit operation. The explosion of midfielder Alberto Moleiro, paralyzed the sale of him to FC Barcelona, forms the star movement. It is a historic opportunity. In addition, it is worth remembering the blow of losing Kirian Rodríguez until January, at least, due to cancer. The attacker set himself the challenge of becoming the best player in the winter market, but UD do not want to set deadlines. “He is a fighter and an example of courage,” they valued from the entity about the ’20’, who has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Under this scenario, review the setback suffered by Iñaki Elejalde against Las Palmas Atlético. He has affected the clavicle and is awaiting tests.
With Ale Palanca and Julen as the faces of the subsidiary with options to stay in Pimienta’s first team–following in the footsteps of Moleiro or Sergi Cardona–, Viera can surpass Marcos Márquez’s goal record in this 2022-23 season. El Matador is the sixth all-time top scorer in Las Palmas (73), with Juani Castillo in fifth place with 81 goals. The ’21’ has scored 68 goals and is in ninth position, tied with Rubén Castro.
The first eleven sows some question. Álvaro Valles, Lemos, Saúl Coco, Curbelo or Sidnei and Sergi Cardona in the rear. Enzo Loiodice, Nuke Mfulu as gladiators in midfield. On the offensive front: Jonathan Viera, Moleiro and Álvaro Jiménez. Like nine, Marc Cardona, who is fighting for his directorial debut.
In the dispute over the last two friendly matches against Las Palmas Atlético and UD Tamaraceite, the connection of the number ’21’ with the yellow faithful was total. Photos, autographs, babies in arms…The Messiah making a country. The Second Messi has a challenge, to take the Lamborghini Spyder to the latifundio of the infante Pedri and Robert Lewandowski. 266 official matches and 68 goals. At 32 years old, he does not contemplate retirement. “I won’t leave until I get promoted,” he has tattooed on his artist soul. Pending Sandro Ramírez and Marvin, after falling the option to sign Cesc Fábregas, everything revolves around Viera. The cycle of ‘I see a lot of partying here 2.0’ begins.
Tribute to Kirian from the fans
The last official match of UD Las Palmas in Gran Canaria brought together 31,502 spectators in what was the best attendance of the entire 21-22 season in the Second Division. On Saturday, August 13, football returns to the Siete Palmas venue with a pitch in perfect condition, after the last reseeding. The appointment against Zaragoza has an emotional aspect due to the figure of Kirian Rodríguez. The man from Tenerife, with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, will be the center of attention. He went to Barranco Seco for the last two friendlies and received a wink from the 900 faithful who showed up. Faced with Carcedo’s morning formation, the yellow fans, led by the associations and clubs, studied various initiatives in the 20th minute. It is the number of the player from Candelaria, who is at the heart of the social mass. With nearly 16,000 cards, the season ticket holder campaign is in the final stretch. The yellow data is located on the Second podium. Zaragoza goes first (24,000 cards), followed by Sporting (19,000) and UD. Then there are: Málaga (14,000), Levante UD (13,000) and Granada (12,000).
