Real Madrid started the new campaign in the best way: a 1-4 victory over Deportivo Alaves gave to the men of Carletto Ancelotti the first three points. It was a match that started off slowly as mostly happens in the first weeks of every new season. The team is not fully settled and clearly needs more time to work but however, what’s to come, seems positive. The integration of Bale and Alaba seem not to need much time. They already play like they have been playing regularly for several seasons in Madrid.
Karim Benzema picked up where he left off last season by scoring twice to fire Real Madrid to a 4-1 win away to Alaves in their opening game of the LaLiga campaign. Real had an uninspiring first half in Carlo Ancelotti's first league game since taking charge of the club for a second time but Benzema settled their nerves by blasting the ball into the net in the 48th minute after being teed up by Eden Hazard. Everything became easier after that. This was a highly encouraging first match under Carlo Ancelotti, who likely said something at the break that led to Real Madrid playing with much more confidence and incisiveness in the second half. Real will have tougher challenges, but they did very well to break down a tough Alaves defense on Matchday 1.
Ancelotti's Real Madrid side got their LaLiga campaign underway with a win at Mendizorroza. A Benzema brace and goals for Nacho and Vini Jr., all in the second half, clinched the first three points of the season against Alavés. The game kicked off at a blistering pace and the first dangerous moment fell to the home side with just six minutes gone but Rioja's effort from the edge of the box was safely dealt with by Courtois. Real Madrid responded 11 minutes on, but Hazard's whipped effort from outside the area, after Casemiro had stolen the ball back, failed to find the target. About halfway through the opening 45 minutes, Ancelotti's men began to really take charge of the encounter, with Benzema looking to make their superiority count on 32’. He brought down Militão's long pass superbly and unleashed a fierce effort from the edge of the box which flew just wide.
There was still time for one more chance before the break, but it would fall to Alavés, when Pere Pons' effort with the outside of his right boot ballooned over the crossbar. The second half was a different story altogether, with Real Madrid taking the lead almost immediately. Lucas Vázquez pulled the ball back on 48’ and Hazard's sublime back-heeled pass found Benzema, whose first-time volleyed finish from on the penalty spot was equally as impressive. Eight minutes later and the Whites doubled their lead when Modrić crossed with his left and the sliding Nacho turned the ball in with half-an-hour left to play.
This was Ancelotti’s side’s best spell of the clash, and on 60’ the Whites went close again when Hazard and Benzema linked up superbly inside the box, but Pacheco denied the Frenchman. But two minutes later Madrid made no mistake when Valverde burst into the Alavés half from deep, played the ball past the defender to run onto before crossing to Benzema, whose initial effort was blocked by the keeper but the Frenchman fired the rebound into the net.
Vini Jr. sealed it with the forth goal: Alavés refused to be defeated and on 65’ they reduced the deficit when Joselu converted a penalty after Courtois had brought down Guidetti. The visitors then hung on to pick up their first three points of the new LaLiga campaign and finished the game in style when Vinicius Jr. produced a diving header from a cross by Alaba on his official Madrid debut to make it 4-1.
There is still lots of work to be done, but starting the season with a great win is extremely important in every aspect for the team, the club and the fans. Next up, Ancelotti’s side head to Valencia to take on Levante at the Ciudad de Valencia on Sunday. There is no time to relax and the team knows very well what should be done!
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