Manu Garcia struck true and left no time for an answer, as Alavés knocked off Real Madrid at a rowdy Mendizorrotza Stadium.
Julen Lopetegui is well aware of the pressure he faces being manager of Real Madrid, who’ve struggled for goals in their last three matches.
Alaves pulled off a textbook smash-and-grab in Mendizorrotza to beat Real Madrid on their own turf for the first time since 1931, as Manu Garcia profited from a 95th-minute melee to nod home the 1-0 winner and condemn Julen Lopetegui’s side to a third defeat in four games.
Positives
Absolutely none, unless Karim Benzema managing two shots on target after a run of six games without warming an opposition keeper’s gloves is Lopetegui’s idea of progress. Gareth Bale, who looked like the player most likely to end Real’s scoring drought, picked up another injury to add to their woes.
Negatives
Lopetegui has now overseen Real’s longest dry period in front of goal since 1985, and Alaves were simply more organised, quicker to every ball and comfortably confident in their ability to blunt Real’s attack. Lopetegui’s midfield was lacklustre and the Real coach — if he lasts long enough to profit — will hope Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are used sparingly during the international break.
Manager rating out of 10
0 — Lopetegui refuses to drop Benzema despite the Frenchman’s woeful run in front of goal and only sent on Mariano when his No. 9 was unable to continue after the break. The sight of the Real boss with his head in his hands in stoppage time summed up his inability to tweak Real in-game to any positive effect: two of Abelardo’s substitutes combined for the goal while Lopetegui’s smacked of desperation. There’ll be a chat with Florentino Perez coming in the next couple of days.
Player ratings (1-10, 10=best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Thibaut Courtois, 6 — Hardly had a save to make and was perhaps unfortunate that he palmed the only threatening effort he faced straight to Garcia. Real’s issues are multiple at the moment, but the Belgian can’t be faulted for this result.
DF Alvaro Odriozola, 7 — Odriozola played out an entertaining battle with Jony on the right, and although he was occasionally beaten by the winger, he was quicker to react to danger than most and offered a threat going forward. A loose ball under pressure was a negative, but this was another step in the right direction.
DF Raphael Varane, 7 — Another to emerge with credit, the France defender was imperious in the air and quick across the lines to break up Alaves’ incursions. Handled the physical challenge of Jonathan Calleri and cleared off the line in the first half.
DF Sergio Ramos, 5 — Failed to get to Garcia for the goal and was fortunate not to go in the book — or worse — for a running battle with Calleri, which was exactly what the Alaves forward was trying to achieve. Quick to cover when Jony and Ximo Navarro jumped on sloppy balls out from the back.
DF Nacho, 4 — A couple of stray passes added pressure when the home side enjoyed a 10-minute spell on top in the first half. Made a few mistakes going forward with a couple of wayward crosses and a promising ball played behind the onrushing Benzema.
MF Casemiro, 5 — A quiet evening from the Brazilian, who didn’t get in among the Alaves midfield enough and failed to stamp his authority on the game when screening the back four.
MF Luka Modric, 6 — Modric has admitted he is struggling to recover from the World Cup and it was evident again in Vitoria. A few moments of magic, one to release Mariano, should not mask the fact that he needs a rest.
MF Toni Kroos, 5 — Kroos also appears to be off the pace, and the standing ovation afforded to Mubarak Wakaso highlighted which way that one-on-one went. His set pieces continue to disappoint, but he put in a shift at the back on a difficult night for Real’s midfield overall.
MF Dani Ceballos, 4 — Stung Fernando Pacheco’s gloves with a fizzing effort early on and added a bit of energy to an overworked midfield, but his tendency to lose the ball looking for the clever option when a simple pass would do did not help the team and he faded in the second half.
FW Gareth Bale, 6 — Responsible for most of Real’s attacking verve and the only forward to really trouble Alaves’ back four, it was sadly inevitable that he should limp from the pitch immediately after hammering one of Real’s best efforts from distance.
FW Karim Benzema, 4 — A couple of shots on goal was a positive, but Benzema is clearly struggling where previously he has excelled, failing to link up play and misplacing several passes while lacking ideas when offered the opportunity to run at the back four.
Substitutes
FW Mariano, 6 — A twist-and-turn few minutes after coming on suggested this was going to be his night, but the forward swiftly fell into line with the level around him in another missed opportunity to stake his claim.
FW Marco Asensio, 5 — Brought on to add a different dimension to the attack but failed again to rediscover his early season form as Alaves easily contained his runs.
FW Vinicius Junior, NR — Lopetegui’s wildcard didn’t have the time or support to make an impact in the last 10 minutes.
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