Real Madrid played the game in the opposite way to other nights. They started by hitting, with everything under control, and when the night seemed to be over, they revived it against them with a dizzying drop in tension. After seeing themselves 3-0 down, they ended up not knowing what to do with the ball and with Alavés, who never let go despite the score, pushing with the tie in sight. A nonsense in which everything that Real Madrid had advanced almost evaporated.
3
Thibaut Courtois, Antonio Rüdiger, Lucas Vázquez, Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão (Jesús Vallejo, min. 79), Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde (Luka Modric, min. 68), Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé (Arda Güler, min. 79) , Vinícius Júnior (Fran García, min. 89) and Rodrygo (Endrick, min. 68)
2
The following players were selected: Antonio Sivera, Manu Sanchez (Adrian Pica, min. 70), Moussa Diarra, Santiago Mouriño, Abdel Abqar (Jon Guridi, min. 45), Hugo Novoa, Carlos Benavidez, Tomas Conechny, Antonio Blanco (Ander Guevara, min. 59), Asier Villalibre (Kike Garcia, min. 70) and Luka Romero (Abde Rebbach, min. 59)
Goals
1-0 min. 0: Lucas Vazquez. 2-0 min. 39: Kylian Mbappe. 3-0 min. 47: Rodrygo. 3-1 min. 84: Carlos Benavidez. 3-2 min. 85: Kike Garcia
Referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz
Federico Valverde (min. 3), Vinicius Junior (min. 29), Endrick (min. 82), Modric (min. 95)
They had thought about it very seriously. Despite the proximity of the derby at the Metropolitano, the last stadium where they lost in the League, more than a year ago, Ancelotti did not hold anything back for the reception against Alavés. The Italian has undertaken the search for harmony in the performance, and that is found on the field, especially in times of tight schedules and lack of training sessions. In addition, his team had a pending task. On Saturday, before playing against Espanyol, he had challenged them to score before half-time, something they had only managed once in the previous six games. The effort was remarkable. They shot 14 times. Although without reward, something like that had never happened to them at home in five years.
Against Alavés, Real seemed to pick up the thread of the story where it had left off on Saturday, with Vinicius unreachable. The challenge lasted 54 seconds. Valverde crossed a very long cross from right to left, the Brazilian launched himself along the byline, dribbled and pushed back a ball that Lucas Vázquez scored. That move by Vinicius, even if he repeats it a thousand times, even if he knows it by heart, is still lethal. His ability to produce venom from the left is formidable.
Having met the challenge of scoring in the first half, Madrid set about greasing the connections between its attackers, particularly on the left, where Vinicius, Bellingham and Mbappé were joined. Alavés resisted with order, attentive and generous delivery, and firm footwork. In this overcrowded landscape, they were fine-tuning their movements. The music to which each one dances is becoming more and more similar. Bellingham, the connector of the three up front, is finding the Frenchman. And Mbappé is fine-tuning the moment in which to appear to meet his through balls. That’s how his goal came: he came through the centre, crossed with the Englishman’s pass, cut back and scored. The goal was also the most symphonic part of a team that is chasing fine-tuning. It came after 26 passes, the most elaborate goal of any team so far in the League.
40 minutes, two shots and two goals. The complete opposite of the fruitless siege of the last night at the Bernabéu. Between the two goals, another collection of agitated starts by Vinicius, complaining about the tackles. The referee did not see it the same and ended up showing him the yellow card. That was like Saturday.
The game was going in one direction. Alavés enjoyed few fleeting spells with the ball controlled by Antonio Blanco. Without breaking down. But Real Madrid were very alert, especially Valverde, very fast in the tackle, omnipresent, owner of the central strip with Tchouameni.
Madrid’s performance was developing with the fluidity of a machine that is gradually adjusting. After the break, another blow. Not even three minutes had passed when Lucas Vázquez sent Rodrygo down that right flank that is so little used but from which the Brazilian is increasingly extracting more. A run, a dribble, some steps in the area and a goal between Sivera’s legs.
The Bernabéu was calm. So much so that Endrick had more than just crumbs. He came on with more than 20 minutes to play, although with the same excitement as always. He had barely stepped onto the pitch when he pounced on a loose ball and hit the post. There was even room for requests from the crowd. Vallejo appeared on the touchline for the first time in a long time to warm up and the crowd celebrated. And then he asked for it: “Carletto, take Vallejo off,” chanted the south end. The Italian had Güler ready to come on at his side and ended up giving in: he made a sign to the bench and Vallejo came on with the Turk.
The placidity proved excessive. Protesoni scored with a shot from outside the area shortly after Rebbach had hit the post, and Kike García scored Alavés’ second after taking advantage of a ball behind him. The scare frustrated the debut of youth player Jacobo Ramón, who had already appeared on the field from the touchline, but Ancelotti sent him back to the pens. Suddenly, he was close to losing what he had accumulated. After the development of the match, the end left a very strange relief at the Bernabéu.
