UD Las Palmas face a real La Liga relegation final against Sevilla, and they will do so without their top scorer, Fabio Silva. The Portuguese striker's absence has been a determining factor throughout the season, as the team has not managed a single victory in the eleven matches in which he has been unavailable.
In those matches, Las Palmas have recorded three draws and eight defeats, reflecting a clear dependence on the Portuguese striker. The latest setback came at the Gran Canaria stadium against Rayo Vallecano, where Silva's absence was again felt in a 1-0 defeat.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the Portuguese could miss the rest of the season with a relapse of his injury. His 10 goals and three assists have been crucial, playing a part in 19 of the Islanders' 32 points. With three games to go, Las Palmas are three points adrift of safety and in desperate need of victories.
The challenge will be enormous without their main offensive player, who equals Kevin-Prince Boateng as the last foreigner to reach 10 goals for the club. Diego Martinez's side must win and break their dependence on Fabio Silva if they are to remain in the Spanish top flight.