Alaba stunner sees Blancos bank all three points

Picking up from where they left off, with last season’s European and domestic triumphs, Real Madrid started the new campaign as winners as they came from behind to defeat newly promoted side UD Almería 2-1 away from home, extending their winning streak at the Estadio Mediterráneo to three games.

Coming into the game on the back of their UEFA Super Cup victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Madrid were humbled early on by the newly-promoted side. After being played in behind the Madrid defence by a superb Íñigo Eguaras ball over the top, Largie Ramazani calmly slotted the ball past Thibaut Courtois to give the hosts an unlikely lead within ten minutes. As they looked to defend their slender advantage, Almería battened down the hatches until the HT whistle, and while Lucas Vázquez looked to have stabbed home an equaliser shortly before the break, the goal was ruled out for offside.

Los Blancos upped their tempo in the second half and continued to create numerous chances. Finally, on the hour mark, they found a way through the stubborn Almería rearguard and goalkeeper Fernando, who had been a brick wall all night. After a mazy Vinícius Júnior run, a loose ball was pounced upon by Vásquez, whose clinical finish undid the hosts’ hard work in the previous sixty minutes.

The equaliser only spurred on the club from the capital, and fifteen minutes later they pulled ahead. Astonishingly, with his very first touch after coming on from the bench, David Alaba hammered in a free-kick off the post from just outside the area, giving the visitors a goal they ultimately deserved.

It was an encouraging performance from Rubi’s side, despite the outcome – such a narrow margin of defeat against Los Blancos is no mean feat. However, the result stretches Almeria’s losing run in LaLiga to six games, dating back to 2014.