Thanks to a stoppage-time header by Lucas Vazquez, Real Madrid walked away with a 1-0 win against Alaves on Thursday, despite defender Nacho Fernandez being sent off for a dangerous tackle. This victory puts Madrid in first place via goal difference, tied at 45 points with Girona, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis earlier. Barcelona currently sits third with 38 points. It seemed Girona would maintain their lead in the Spanish league entering 2024 as Madrid struggled, but Vazquez's late goal changed everything.
Real Madrid looked devoid of inspiration for most of the game, creating few chances and appearing headed for a boring goalless draw. However, the mood shifted after Nacho received a straight red card in the 54th minute. Madrid began to play with more urgency, eventually scoring when the veteran Toni Kroos whipped in a corner that Vazquez managed to head into the net through a sea of players.
At the Mendizorroza Stadium, Carlo Ancelotti's side put in a lackluster shift, with their primary offensive threats, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo, being kept quiet for nearly the entire match. Neither team managed to create many clear-cut scoring opportunities.
Due to the red card, Ancelotti had to shift his tactics, bringing on Aurelien Tchouameni for Luka Modric to fill the gap in the defense left by Nacho. This comes at a time when Madrid is grappling with a severe injury crisis in the backline. David Alaba recently became the third player to suffer an ACL tear, joining Eder Milito and Thibaut Courtois on the sidelines. With Antonio Rudiger starting alongside Nacho on Thursday, the injury woes continued as Rodrygo had to be helped off the field during the final moments of the game.
Reflecting on the match, Ancelotti stated that he believed the team earned the victory. He praised Lucas Vazquez, noting that despite his size, he is a dangerous player who has contributed both a goal today and an assist against Villarreal. The manager expressed his happiness with the result, admitting it was a tough night that required immense grit from the squad.
Madrid continues to boast the best defense in Spain, having conceded only 11 goals so far this season. In contrast, Alaves remains in 16th place, just three points above the drop zone, after suffering their third straight loss. Looking ahead, Madrid will host Mallorca on Wednesday, January 3, while Alaves travels to face Real Sociedad on January 2.