The Canary Islands derby took on a different meaning, as the match was dedicated to Jesús de Miguel. Tenerife owner Rico García and Las Palmas president Miguel Ángel were two key figures in one of the major tragedies of this century in Spanish football. Last night, the two embraced on the pitch at the Heliodoro stadium, just meters from where De Miguel suffered the fatal collision. The forward passed away hours later at the Hospital Universitario de Canarias.
As applause erupted, García delivered an emotional speech: "Thank you, Miguel Ángel. Thank you to our brothers at Las Palmas for their incredible support and genuine care. This is what the Canary Islands mean to me." It was a message directed at Las Palmas, whose senior officials responded with solemn expressions. The camera then turned to Tenerife captain Kirian Rodríguez, a homegrown player, who was already in tears. The 1 minute and 30 seconds of silence and tribute was the finest memorial for De Miguel, the number 9 whose story brought the two islands closer together.