Substitute David Alaba needed one touch to help Real Madrid rally to victory in their Spanish league opener on Sunday. Alaba came off the bench and immediately scored from a 75th-minute free-kick to give defending champions Madrid a 2-1 come-from-behind win at promoted Almeria.
Alaba sprinted from the bench and went straight to the free-kick spot, then curled a well-struck shot that went over the wall and hit the post before going in. Madrid on Wednesday began their season by winning the Uefa Super Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt, when Alaba also scored. Almeria, the Saudi-owned club promoted after seven consecutive seasons in the second division, had opened the scoring six minutes into the match with Largie Ramazani.
The Belgian forward broke through behind the Madrid defenders before finding the net past ’keeper Thibaut Courtois. Madrid had been pressing since conceding and equalised with Lucas Vazquez from close range after an assist by Karim Benzema in the 61st. Vazquez had already had a goal disallowed for offside just before half-time.
New signings Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Tchouameni made their debuts with Madrid as starters, with Luka Modric, Casemiro and Eden Hazard entering the match in the second half. Coach Carlo Ancelotti could not count on defender Dani Carvajal and forward Rodrygo because of injuries.“It was a complicated match, they explored very well the spaces that we left on the back of the defence,” Ancelotti said after the match.
“Tchouameni and (Eduardo) Camavinga didn’t show their true quality and potential but sometimes Real Madrid shirt is a heavy burden for the young players.“I have full confidence that they will progress because they are high level players.”
Valencia prevail Gennaro Gattuso debuted as Valencia coach with a 1-0 win against promoted Girona in a match in which his team played a man down during most of the second half. Carlos Soler converted a penalty kick in first-half stoppage time, then the hosts held on despite Eray Comert’s sending off with a straight red card shortly after half-time at Mestalla Stadium.
Gattuso took over from Jose Bordalas, who was fired despite leading Valencia to the Copa del Rey final in his single season in charge. Takefusa Kubo made the most of his debut with Real Sociedad, scoring the team’s 1-0 win at Cadiz.
The 21-year-old Japanese attacking midfielder is playing yet another season on loan from Real Madrid after stints with Mallorca, Villarreal and Getafe. Kubo picked up a nice pass by Mikel Merino behind the Cadiz defender and scored with a shot from inside the area in the 24th minute.
Sociedad, which finished sixth in the league last season, was in control during most of the match at the Nuevo Mirandilla Stadium. It only failed to get a bigger win because of a solid performance by Cadiz goalkeeper Jeremías Ledesma. Cadiz barely avoided demotion last season, finishing just above the relegation zone. Sociedad next Sunday host Barcelona. Cadiz visit Osasuna next Saturday.
