Real Madrid secured a 3-2 victory in La Liga on Tuesday night, surviving a late scare that saw Alaves score twice in quick succession, making for a nervy finish for the hosts.
Real Madrid burst out of the blocks and took the lead just 55 seconds into the game, the earliest goal by any La Liga team this season, when Lucas Vazquez was found by Vinicius Junior's pulled-back cross to the penalty spot, with the defender neatly converting into the near corner to give the hosts the ideal start.
Kylian Mbappe believed he had doubled the lead in the 22nd minute when a fantastic piece of build-up play culminated with him placing his shot into the far corner, but the offside flag was swiftly raised, denying the Frenchman his goal.
Los Blancos maintained their dominance for the rest of the first half, eventually adding a second goal when Mbappé burst into life, artfully combining with Jude Bellingham prior to calmly placing his shot into the near corner, securing Real Madrid's second goal with five minutes of the first 45 remaining.
The hosts picked up where they left off following the restart, once again scoring from their first attack from kickoff, this time when Rodrygo raced past his marker before nutmegging the goalkeeper to add a third.
Alaves scored what appeared to be a consolation when Carlos Protesoni stuck a beautifully curved effort past Thibaut Courtois, off the post and into the net in the 85th minute.
However, the visitors created a tense ending when they added a second just a minute later after a long ball forward found Kike Garcia, who managed to bring the ball down and sneak his effort past Courtois and into the far corner, but they were unable to find the eventual equaliser.
REAL MADRID VS. ALAVES HIGHLIGHTS
Lucas Vazquez goal vs. Alaves (1st min, Real Madrid 1-0 Alaves)
They won't be waiting until the second half for goals tonight! 🔥
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) September 24, 2024
Lucas Vasquez is set up by Vini Jr and Real Madrid lead inside one minute ⚪ pic.twitter.com/IJcizyMPaR
What a start for Real Madrid as Vazquez gives them the lead less than a minute after kick-off!
A long ball is switched from right to left, finding Vinicius Junior, who takes a wonderful touch before racing past his marker and towards the byline, where he pulls the ball back towards the penalty spot.
Vazquez, stepping up as captain for the night in the absence of Dani Carvajal, meets the cross and sweeps the ball into the near corner with his left foot, giving the home side an ideal early lead.
Kylian Mbappe goal vs. Alaves (40th min, Real Madrid 2-0 Alaves)
Kylian Mbappé 🤝 Jude Bellingham
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) September 24, 2024
Real Madrid's stars combine brilliantly as Mbappé scores his 5th LALIGA goal 🙌 pic.twitter.com/QqK03pbYDU
Simply sensational stuff from Mbappe!
The forward skilfully chops the ball to Bellingham before racing towards the penalty area, receiving the pass back from his teammate just inside the opposition box.
Mbappe takes a touch and rapidly changes direction from left to right, brilliantly taking the defender out of the game, before finishing with his trademark near-post shot, doubling the lead for Los Blancos.
Rodrygo goal vs. Alaves (48th min, Real Madrid 3-0 Alaves)
👀 A fine evening so far for Ancelotti's men... pic.twitter.com/EO3c3nVfQh
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) September 24, 2024
Real Madrid have stunned Alaves once again from kick-off, scoring with their initial attack after the restart, just as they did with their opening goal of the first half.
Vazquez feeds the ball to Rodrygo on the right wing, with the Brazilian standing up his marker before speeding past him and into the box.
With the angle on goal quickly closing in, the defenders seem to anticipate a cross, but instead, Rodrygo whips the ball through Antonio Sivera's legs and into the net, adding Real Madrid's third of the night.
Carlos Protesoni goal vs. Real Madrid (85th min, Real Madrid 3-1 Alaves)
© Imago
A cheap loss of possession allows Alaves to regain the ball just outside the box, with Ander Guevara eventually setting the ball off for Protesoni to shoot.
The midfielder needs no second invitation, walking onto the ball before curling a fine left-footed effort off the post and into the net to give the visitors a slither of hope.
Kike Garcia goal vs. Real Madrid (86th min, Real Madrid 3-2 Team B)
Game on! 👀
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) September 24, 2024
A quick Alaves double and all of a sudden it's 3-2 and Real Madrid's win isn't secure yet 🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/gHXXnJhIvB
Just a minute later and Alaves are right back in this one!
A long ball is sent over the Real Madrid defence and into the path of Garcia, who brings the ball down excellently before hitting his shot across goal and into the far corner, making for a very nervy last few minutes for the hosts.
MAN OF THE MATCH - LUCAS VAZQUEZ
© Imago
On a night when Vazquez was handed the armband in the absence of the usual captain Carvajal, he certainly stepped up to the plate by scoring and assisting to help Real Madrid secure a fifth successive victory.
A finely taken opener and an assist for Rodrygo's third was slightly tainted by a poor pass that led to Alaves's first goal, but the defender still deserves plenty of credit for his performance.
REAL MADRID VS. ALAVES MATCH STATS
Possession: Real Madrid 69%-31% Alaves
Shots: Real Madrid 10-12 Alaves
Shots on target: Real Madrid 4-3 Alaves
Corners: Real Madrid 4-4 Alaves
Fouls: Real Madrid 7-10 Alaves
BEST STATS
55 - Lucas Vázquez's goal 55 seconds into the game is the earliest achieved by any team in LaLiga 2024/25 and Real Madrid's earliest in the competition since February 2018 against Real Sociedad, also by Lucas Vázquez (49 seconds). Dagger. pic.twitter.com/rYqzsHUh0h
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 24, 2024
1 - Real Madrid have received more yellow cards by dissent than any other team in LaLiga 2024/25 with eight, three of them by Vinícius Júnior, more than any other player. Nervousness. pic.twitter.com/WkDycPqNpQ
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 24, 2024
26 - Kylian Mbappé has scored against Alavés after a run of 26 uninterrupted passes, the longest sequence of a goal by any team in LaLiga this season. Patience. pic.twitter.com/eE4HXn0Oi6
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 24, 2024
3 - Lucas Vázquez has both scored and assisted in the same game in three of his last seven starts for Real Madrid in all competitions, as many times as in his previous 154 starts. Reliability. pic.twitter.com/ZNpMf6vVmk
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 24, 2024
39 - Real Madrid have become only the second team in LaLiga history to go unbeaten in 39 consecutive games in the competition (W29 D10), after Barcelona in 2018 (G43 W34 D9). Invincible. pic.twitter.com/6Zkz59oRi6
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 24, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
The win for Real Madrid means they have now triumphed in each of their last five matches across all competitions, and they will look to extend that run when they travel to face their rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Defeat for Alaves makes it just their third of the season, and they will look to bounce back with a win at Getafe before they take on another of Spain's giant clubs, Barcelona, a week later.
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