Alaves 1-0 Real Madrid
There was bedlam tonight at the Mendizorrotza Stadium as substitute Manu Garcia climbed high to head a last-gasp winner for Alaves against toothless Real Madrid.
The 95th-minute stunner has lifted Deportivo Alaves joint top…yes, joint top of La Liga, with Barcelona and Los Blancos. Coach Abelardo should be given the freedom of the Basque for his incredible feats at Alaves over the past year, but Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui will want to get away as quickly as he can. That’s four games without a goal for his team, unheard of, but somehow, they still remain joint top for the time being.
Real Madrid will be wondering how they lost a game they dominated for long periods as most of the 19461 fans packed into the stadium celebrated, but they simply couldn’t find the killer touch. They need to locate it soon or it’s going to be a frustrating campaign.
The La Liga 2018 odds on the title returning to the Bernabeu depend much on the form of the Champions Barcelona, who have stuttered themselves a little. But they’ll drift pretty quickly if this goal drought in Madrid goes on for much longer.
Highlights of the game
Without a goal in the previous three games, Real Madrid came out with all guns blazing. Dani Ceballos was in the middle of the early action, setting up chances for Nacho and top scorer Karim Benzema. He also tried his luck himself, but the Alaves defence held firm.
Then, on nine minutes, Alvaro Odriozola crossed for Benzema, but his header from six yards out was again scrambled away by the hosts.
Ibai Gomez is Alaves’ top scorer with three goals, and he was in a lively mood once the hosts had weathered the storm, putting in Ximo Navarro, but his shot was charged down. Los Blancos fans will have been delighted to see Gareth Bale in the starting line-up, having been sidelined by injury for the Champions League defeat in Moscow. The Welshman had been in good form before his lay-off and looked to be back to fitness again, getting on the end of a Benzema cross, but his header was high and wide. And Bale had a shot charged down shortly afterwards by a defence which Abelardo clearly had well drilled.
Following a goalless first half, it was Real Madrid who came out firing again at the start of the second. This time, it was Casemiro shooting from outside the area and drawing a good save by Alaves captain Fernando Pacheco. The keeper has learned his trade well at the Bernabeu.
And then the hosts came out fighting on the hour, with Ruben Duarte, Jonathan Calleri and Mubarak Wakaso all having efforts denied.
As the clock ran down and the game became more stretched, Real’s Marco Asensio had a shot blocked and when Alaves broke quickly. Calleri put Jony through, but his
cross-shot whistled inches wide of the right-hand post. Then the sight Los Blancos really didn’t want to see came on 80 minutes when, shortly after having another shot saved, Bale limped off to be replaced by Vinicius Junior.
If they thought that was bad, the sound of the Stadium erupting on 95 minutes as Garcia headed home from a corner must have broken their hearts.
Key statistics
The SBOBET odds on a home win were at 8.25 before a ball was kicked is fantastic value as it turned out!
Los Blancos simply couldn’t turn their possession into goals; they had 70 per cent of the ball, but only managed six shots on target to Alaves’ four, and none which troubled the excellent Pachecho too much.
It’s only the second time Alaves have beaten Real Madrid in 17 attempts, and since their return to the top flight in 2016, it’s the first time they have avoided defeat.
But it’s already four games without a goal for Los Blancos. You can’t easily beat a statistic like that!
What’s next?
Real Madrid and Alaves fans will have a close eye on the La Liga 2018 updates tomorrow, particular towards Valencia, where Barcelona visit in the evening.
The International break probably hasn’t come at a bad time for Los Blancos, and they are back at the Bernabeu for the visit of Levante when they return, winners away to Getafe this weekend and sitting handily in mid-table. Then, it’s the small matter of El Clasico at the Camp Nou on 28th October.
Now, that’s a game none of us is going to miss!
Deportivo Alaves has missed two previous chances to join the top two, losing to Levante and then drawing with Getafe, but this was an amazing night.
After a well-deserved international break, Abelardo takes his team for a Friday night out away to Celta Viga.
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