Match ends, Alaves 1, Real Madrid 4.
AlavésAlavés1Real MadridReal Madrid4
Karim Benzema scored twice as Real Madrid beat Alaves in their La Liga opener as Carlo Ancelotti and Gareth Bale returned to the club.
Bale, back from a loan spell at Tottenham, was in former Everton boss Ancelotti's first starting XI.
Eden Hazard set up Benzema's opener with a nice flick and Nacho doubled the lead with a volley.
Benzema scored again and Joselu slotted a penalty for Alaves before Vinicius Jr scored a late fourth for Real.
David Alaba made his Real debut at left-back after his free-transfer move from Bayern Munich - and set up that late Vinicius goal.
Real laboured in the first half but cruised after the break, with Hazard looking in good shape following the fitness problems that have plagued his time at Madrid so far.
A backheel pass by the Belgium playmaker for Benzema's opener in particular was outstanding.
Bale's Real Madrid career looks revived after the appointment of Ancelotti, having struggled to get in Zinedine Zidane's team before going to Spurs for a year. His previous Real game was against Mallorca in June 2020.
Line-ups
Alavés
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Pacheco
- 21Aguirregabiria
- 5Laguardia
- 22Lejeune
- 3Duarte
- 8PinaSubstituted forMoyaat 82'minutes
- 20PonsSubstituted forLoumat 59'minutes
- 11RiojaSubstituted forPellistriat 68'minutes
- 14García AlonsoBooked at 35minsSubstituted forGuidettiat 59'minutes
- 17MéndezSubstituted forMartínat 68'minutes
- 9Joselu
Substitutes
- 2Rodríguez
- 6Loum
- 7Pérez
- 10Guidetti
- 12García
- 13Sivera
- 15Moya
- 18Pellistri
- 19Martín
- 26Abqar
- 27López
- 29Hara
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 1CourtoisBooked at 64mins
- 17Vázquez
- 3Militão
- 6Nacho
- 4Alaba
- 15ValverdeSubstituted forIscoat 88'minutes
- 14Casemiro
- 10ModricSubstituted forAsensioat 88'minutes
- 18BaleBooked at 53minsSubstituted forRodrygoat 68'minutes
- 9BenzemaSubstituted forJovicat 88'minutes
- 7E HazardSubstituted forVinícius Júniorat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 11Asensio
- 13Lunin
- 16Jovic
- 19Odriozola
- 20Vinícius Júnior
- 21Rodrygo
- 22Isco
- 27Blanco
- 35Gutiérrez
- 40Fuidias
- Referee:
- César Soto Grado
- Attendance:
- 3,968
Match Stats
Home TeamAlavésAway TeamReal Madrid
- Possession
- Home41%
- Away59%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away19
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away7
- Corners
- Home0
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Alaves 1, Real Madrid 4.
Goal!
Goal! Alaves 1, Real Madrid 4. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by David Alaba with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Fernando Pacheco.
Post update
Attempt saved. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Casemiro.
Post update
Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Toni Moya (Alaves).
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Luka Jovic replaces Karim Benzema.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Marco Asensio replaces Luka Modric.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Isco replaces Federico Valverde.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Luka Modric (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Vinícius Júnior.
Substitution
Substitution, Alaves. Toni Moya replaces Tomás Pina.
Post update
Attempt saved. Mamadou Loum (Alaves) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Facundo Pellistri.
Post update
Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Mamadou Loum (Alaves).
Post update
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Florian Lejeune.
Post update
Foul by Rodrygo (Real Madrid).
Post update
Rubén Duarte (Alaves) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Rodrygo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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