Real Madrid shocked by Alaves after last-minute winner
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ByEurosport
Updated 06/10/2018 at 21:45 GMT
Liga, Mendizorroza - Deportivo Alavés 1 (Manu Garcia, 90) Real Madrid 0
Real Madrid's Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois reacts to conceding a goal during the Spanish league football match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Madrid CF at the Mendizorroza stadium in Vitoria on October 6, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
Manu Garcia scored a last-minute winner as Deportivo Alavés beat Real Madrid 1-0 at the Mendizorroza in La Liga.
Real Madrid started with Alvaro Odriozola making just his second start, and their best moves came down the right.
The away side were looking - for a short while at least - to go three points ahead of rivals Barcelona.
A bright start saw, Dani Ceballos, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema all going close in the first 10 minutes of the half, but after that period Alaves held off their opponents will little fuss.
In the second half, Real put on Mariano for Benzema, but it made little difference as they huffed and puffed in front of goal. With a quarter of an hour remaining the game remained goalless with little sign of a winner.
With 10 minutes left, Vinicius Jr replaced a possibly injured Bale, but Real could not force their way through as they continued to struggle in front of goal.
Then, with the last touch of the game, Manu Garcia headed into an empty net after two errors from Thibaut Courtois in a fraction of a second.
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Alaves' players celebrate after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Madrid CF at the Mendizorroza stadium in Vitoria on October 6, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT
Can Real Madrid afford to play without Vinicius Jr? He is young, unreliable and inconsistent, and he barely knows the league. But he is the only player who can create something from nothing in the penalty area. Without Cristiano Ronaldo there is nothing exceptional in the team in the final third.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Mubarak Wakaso (Alaves): He was enjoyably aggressive through the match, booting players across the park for the first hour until he got booked. In between the violence he kept the ball well for his team and won it back from his opponents. A vital display kept his side in the game until the winner.
PLAY RATINGS
Alaves: Pacheco 6, Ximo Navarro 7, Laguardia 6, Maripán 6, Duarte 6, Pina 6, Wakaso 8, Brasanac 5, Ibai Gómez 6, Calleri 6, Jony 7. Subs: Manu García 8, Aguirregabiria 6.
Real Madrid: Courtois 6, Ramos 6, Varane 6, Odriozola 7, Nacho 6, Ceballos 6, Modric 7, Casemiro 6, Kroos 6, Bale 6, Benzema 5. Subs: Mariano 7, Asensio 6, Vinicius Jr 6.
KEY EVENTS
5' - CEBALLOS SHOT - Bale brings down a high ball well, backheels to Benzema. The striker clips a pass out wide to Ceballos, who turns onto his right and forces a corner with a low drive to the near post.
6' - BALE HEADER - Alaves defend two corners in quick succession, and Nacho whips in a cross for Bale to glance just wide of the far post.
9' BENZEMA CHANCE - A cross is sent in from the right to the back post from Odriozola, and Benzema heads down towards goal only to see it booted off the line.
52' - CASEMIRO SHOT - Casemiro has a dig from distance and his low shot is easily saved. Somebody needs to do something good, at some point.
77' - JONY MISS - Oh my days. Down the inside left Alaves break, Jony getting past Varane, and he drags a shot inches wide of the far post.
90+5' - GOAL! Alaves 1-0 Real Madrid - Garcia scores - The corner is swung in from the left, Courtois misses the fight, it's headed back across goal - via Courtois' flap - to Garcia who can head into an empty net.
Alaves' players celebrate after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Madrid CF at the Mendizorroza stadium in Vitoria on October 6, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY STAT
- Real Madrid have failed to score in four consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since April 1985 (five), their worst run ever. Opta
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