- Largie Ramazani (6')
- Lucas Vázquez (61')
- David Alaba (75')
Real Madrid rally past Almeria to start LaLiga season with win
Real Madrid go ahead on a free kick from David Alaba
Real Madrid go ahead on a free kick from David Alaba
Champions Real Madrid overcame a slow start in their first match of the LaLiga season with a 2-1 comeback win over Almeria at the Power Horse Stadium on Sunday night.
David Alaba netted a divine winner after Lucas Vazquez had drawn Madrid level following a surprise opener from Almeria's Largie Ramazani in the sixth minute.
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The newly-promoted hosts took a shock lead early in the first half with a classy goal through Ramazani, who picked up a perfect ball over the top of the Madrid defense, took one touch and fired a low line drive past Thibaut Courtois to make it 1-0.
Carlo Ancelotti's side -- which included five changes to the starting 11 that won both the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup -- applied plenty of pressure throughout the first half and even had a Vazquez goal ruled out for offside as Almeria clung to their narrow lead until half-time.
Madrid ratcheted through the gears and found their equaliser just after the hour mark when Vazquez pounced on a loose ball and scored from close range following Vinicius Junior's hard-charging run into the area.
Alaba made the ultimate impact as a substitute, scoring the go-ahead goal with his first touch after coming on for Ferland Mendy. The Austria international bent the ball up and over the Almeria wall from a free kick into the top corner after Luka Modric was brought down just outside the penalty area.
"It was a complicated match, they explored very well the spaces that we left on the back of the defence," Ancelotti said. "[Aurelien] Tchouameni and [Eduardo] Camavinga didn't show their true quality and potential, but sometimes Real Madrid shirt is a heavy burden for the young players.
"I have full confidence that they will progress because they are high level players."
Information from Reuters was used in this report.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Juan Martínez Munuera
Spanish LALIGA Standings
Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Real Madrid | 32 | 25 | 6 | 1 | +48 | 81 |
Barcelona | 32 | 21 | 7 | 4 | +27 | 70 |
Girona | 32 | 21 | 5 | 6 | +27 | 68 |
Atlético Madrid | 32 | 19 | 4 | 9 | +21 | 61 |
Athletic Club | 32 | 16 | 10 | 6 | +22 | 58 |
Real Sociedad | 32 | 13 | 12 | 7 | +12 | 51 |
Real Betis | 32 | 12 | 12 | 8 | +2 | 48 |
Valencia | 32 | 13 | 8 | 11 | +1 | 47 |
Villarreal | 32 | 11 | 9 | 12 | -4 | 42 |
Getafe | 32 | 9 | 13 | 10 | -6 | 40 |
Osasuna | 32 | 11 | 6 | 15 | -9 | 39 |
Sevilla | 32 | 9 | 10 | 13 | -4 | 37 |
Las Palmas | 32 | 10 | 7 | 15 | -9 | 37 |
Alavés | 32 | 9 | 8 | 15 | -10 | 35 |
Rayo Vallecano | 32 | 7 | 13 | 12 | -12 | 34 |
Mallorca | 32 | 6 | 13 | 13 | -12 | 31 |
Celta Vigo | 32 | 7 | 10 | 15 | -10 | 31 |
Cádiz | 32 | 4 | 13 | 15 | -23 | 25 |
Granada | 32 | 3 | 9 | 20 | -28 | 18 |
Almería | 32 | 1 | 11 | 20 | -33 | 14 |