AD Ceuta FC vs Las Palmas

AD Ceuta FC welcome Las Palmas to the Estadio Municipal Alfonso Murube in Ceuta on Saturday, 22 August 2026, for the second round of the Segunda División season. Both sides opened their campaign in contrasting fashion and arrive at this early contest with very different ambitions for the 2026/27 campaign.

Team News and Injury Latest

No fresh injuries have been reported from either camp heading into the fixture. The brief turnaround between matchdays means squad rotation is always a consideration, but both coaches will be keen to build momentum. The biggest off‑pitch story around Ceuta involves head coach José Juan Romero, who is beginning his fifth consecutive season in charge of the club. National reports note that he is doing so "in the midst of a very complicated situation in the autonomous city," a backdrop that makes every early home point especially precious.

Las Palmas, managed by new boss Rubén de la Barrera, are still embedding his ideas. De la Barrera is one of nine managerial newcomers in the division this season, taking over a side that reached the promotion play‑off semi‑finals last term. The Estadio Gran Canaria – the largest venue in the Segunda División with 32,392 seats – underlines the scale of the club, and expectations remain high that they can push for a return to La Liga.

Matchday 1 Form Guide

Ceuta endured a chastening start to the season, losing 4‑0 away to FC Andorra on the opening weekend. That defeat leaves them bottom of the early standings and already chasing the pack. The performance highlighted the gulf the North African enclave’s side must bridge if they are to survive their fourth Segunda campaign and avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.

In contrast, Las Palmas began with a narrow home win, a single‑goal victory over Albacete. That result placed the Gran Canaria club among the early front‑runners, with three points and a clean sheet providing a tidy foundation ahead of their first road trip of the campaign.

The De la Barrera Project

Las Palmas are one of the sides widely viewed as a candidate for the promotion places. After coming within touching distance of Primera last season, the club acted by appointing De la Barrera, a coach known for structured, progressive football. With a squad that has not been drastically overhauled, there is continuity as well as fresh direction.

The Canary Island side travel to Ceuta knowing that victories against newly promoted or struggling outfits are the bedrock of any successful promotion push. The trip to the Alfonso Murube is the sort of fixture where dropped points would quickly be scrutinised given the season’s ambitions.

Key Battle: Ceuta’s Resolve vs. Las Palmas’ Quality

Despite the heavy loss in Andorra, Ceuta are unlikely to be passive in their first home match. José Juan Romero’s sides have historically shown resilience in adversity, and the tight confines of the Alfonso Murube can make life awkward for visiting teams accustomed to larger stages. The duel will likely be won in midfield, where Ceuta must disrupt Las Palmas’ rhythm early and deny the visitors the control De la Barrera craves.

What Comes Next

After Saturday’s contest, Ceuta head to the mainland for their third fixture of the season, while Las Palmas will return to their Gran Canaria fortress looking to build on a six‑point start. With the Segunda table already taking an embryonic shape, the margin between an early crisis and a steady launch is razor‑thin.