Lucas Vazquez struck deep into stoppage time as 10-man Real Madrid won at Alaves to go top of La Liga.
A 1-1 draw between Girona and Betis earlier in the day meant Real knew they would go first with victory.
But they struggled to create chances and their cause was not helped when defender Nacho was dismissed in the 54th minute for a bad foul on Samu Omorodion.
But two minutes into added time Vazquez rose to head in a Toni Kroos corner.
La Liga top scorer Jude Bellingham was unable to add to his 13 league goals so far in this campaign but it did not matter as Carlo Ancelotti’s side end 2023 in first place, going above Girona on goal difference.
Girona had looked on course to take another important win thanks to Artem Dovbyk’s first-half penalty, but German Pezzella equalised with two minutes left.
Line-ups
Alavés
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Sivera
- 2GorosabelSubstituted forTenagliaat 78′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 5Abqar
- 16Marín
- 3DuarteBooked at 45minsSubstituted forLópezat 59′minutesBooked at 83mins
- 8Blanco
- 6Guevara
- 11Rioja
- 18GuridiSubstituted forHagiat 59′minutes
- 21RebbachSubstituted forSolaat 72′minutes
- 32OmorodionSubstituted forKikeat 78′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Sola
- 9Karrikaburu
- 10Hagi
- 14Tenaglia
- 15Kike
- 17Alkain
- 19Maras
- 23Benavídez
- 27López
- 30Mendes
- 31Owono
- 36Muñoz
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 25Arrizabalaga Revuelta
- 17Vázquez
- 22Rüdiger
- 6NachoBooked at 54mins
- 20García
- 15Valverde
- 8Kroos
- 10ModricSubstituted forTchouaméniat 55′minutes
- 5BellinghamBooked at 84mins
- 21DíazSubstituted forJoseluat 76′minutes
- 11RodrygoSubstituted forCeballosat 90+6′minutes
Substitutes
- 13Lunin
- 14Joselu
- 18Tchouaméni
- 19Ceballos
- 30González
- 32Paz
- 33García
- 36Tobias da Silva
- Referee:
- Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos
- Attendance:
- 19,275
Live Text
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Match ends, Alaves 0, Real Madrid 1.
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Second Half ends, Alaves 0, Real Madrid 1.
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Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Nahuel Tenaglia (Alaves).
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Joselu (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Abdel Abqar (Alaves).
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Substitution, Real Madrid. Dani Ceballos replaces Rodrygo because of an injury.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Rodrygo (Real Madrid).
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Goal! Alaves 0, Real Madrid 1. Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Toni Kroos with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Nahuel Tenaglia.
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Nahuel Tenaglia (Alaves) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Fran García (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Nahuel Tenaglia (Alaves).
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Attempt blocked. Nahuel Tenaglia (Alaves) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ianis Hagi with a cross.
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Corner, Alaves. Conceded by Aurélien Tchouaméni.
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Attempt blocked. Luis Rioja (Alaves) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Antonio Blanco.
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Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid).
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Nahuel Tenaglia (Alaves) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
