Alaves 1-2 Real Madrid: Gareth Bale starts as visitors move top of La Liga

1 Dec 2019

BBC News

Alaves 12 Real Madrid Gareth Bale starts as visitors move top of La Liga

Gareth Bale makes his first Real Madrid start since 5 October as Zinedine Zidane's side move top of La Liga with victory at Alaves.

Gareth Bale made his first Real Madrid start since 5 October as Zinedine Zidane's side moved top of La Liga with victory at Alaves.

Real captain Sergio Ramos opened the scoring with a flicked header 10 minutes into the second half.

Lucas Perez equalised from the penalty spot, but Dani Carvajal bundled home from close range to earn Real the win.

Barcelona will return to the top of the table if they beat Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Real produced one of their best performances of the campaign against Paris St-Germain on Tuesday but lacked intensity at the Mendizorrotza Stadium, struggling to create clear-cut opportunities in a frustrating first half.

Bale, making his first start since suffering a calf injury at the beginning of October, had been heavily criticised by sections of the Spanish press after posing with a 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order' flag while on international duty earlier this month.

But the winger started brightly and went closest to breaking the deadlock before half-time, heading Isco's cross on to the post via a heavy deflection off Ximo Navarro.

Ramos eventually nodded the visitors into the lead from Toni Kroos' delivery, but the Real skipper conceded a penalty when he collided with Joselu inside the area.

Former Arsenal striker Perez sent Alphonse Areola the wrong way from the spot, but Carvajal restored Madrid's lead four minutes later after Isco's header had rebounded off the post.

The win lifts Zidane's team three points clear of second-placed Barcelona, who have played a game fewer.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Alavés

1Pacheco
21Aguirregabiria
5Laguardia
23Navarro Jiménez
3DuarteBooked at 79mins
18VidalBooked at 7mins
22WakasoSubstituted forGarcía Sánchezat 82'minutes
8PinaBooked at 45minsSubstituted forPonsat 76'minutes
11RiojaSubstituted forBurkeat 60'minutes
9Joselu
7PérezBooked at 67mins

Substitutes

4Ely
10Guidetti
13Sivera
14Franco Alviz
19García Sánchez
20Pons
24Burke

Real Madrid

1Areola
2Carvajal
3MilitãoBooked at 80mins
4RamosBooked at 63mins
12Marcelo
10ModricBooked at 32minsSubstituted forValverdeat 80'minutes
14Casemiro
8Kroos
11BaleSubstituted forRodrygoat 67'minutes
9Benzema
22IscoSubstituted forMendyat 90'minutes

Substitutes

13Courtois
15Valverde
18Jovic
19Odriozola
23Mendy
25Vinícius Júnior
27Rodrygo

Referee:Guillermo Cuadra Fernández

Attendance:19,357

Match Stats

Home TeamAlavésAway TeamReal Madrid

PossessionHome36%Away64%ShotsHome8Away12Shots on TargetHome2Away6CornersHome9Away4FoulsHome18Away11

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Alavés 1, Real Madrid 2.

Full Time

Posted at90'+9'

Second Half ends, Alavés 1, Real Madrid 2.

Posted at90'+8'

Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at90'+8'

Foul by Joselu (Alavés).

Posted at90'+7'

Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at90'+7'

Foul by Pere Pons (Alavés).

Posted at90'+7'

Attempt missed. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.

Posted at90'+6'

Marcelo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at90'+6'

Foul by Martín Aguirregabiria (Alavés).

Posted at90'+5'

Hand ball by Lucas Pérez (Alavés).

Posted at90'+5'

Offside, Real Madrid. Marcelo tries a through ball, but Karim Benzema is caught offside.

Posted at90'+3'

Corner, Alavés. Conceded by Daniel Carvajal.

Substitution

Posted at90'

Substitution, Real Madrid. Ferland Mendy replaces Isco.

Posted at89'

Attempt saved. Manu García (Alavés) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lucas Pérez with a cross.

Posted at89'

Corner, Alavés. Conceded by Isco.

Posted at89'

Corner, Alavés. Conceded by Marcelo.

Posted at89'

Attempt blocked. Lucas Pérez (Alavés) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rubén Duarte.

Posted at88'

Corner, Alavés. Conceded by Alphonse Areola.

Posted at88'

Corner, Alavés. Conceded by Toni Kroos.

Posted at88'

Attempt missed. Rubén Duarte (Alavés) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Aleix Vidal with a cross following a corner.