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Lucas Pérez and Joselu struck at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium to secure a historic victory for Alavés and condemn Real Madrid to a second defeat in three games and put the defense of the champion title in serious doubt after only 11 weeks of action in LaLiga.
The visitors were well organized and made the most of Madrid’s high defensive line to lay siege to Thibaut Courtois’ goal. The Belgian goalkeeper made a terrible error of judgment to deliver Alavés their second goal but had it not been for the goalkeeper, the score could have been considerably higher in favor of Pablo Machín’s team.
The improvised rear of Madrid was opened again and again by the rapid incursions of Luis Rioja, Pérez and Joselu, who took full advantage of the lack of cohesion in a defensive line stripped of Sergio Ramos.
Casemiro threw the home team a lifeline at the end when he stabbed home a rebound from substitute Vinicius’ effort and Isco cut the crossbar with the final kick of the match, but Alavés held on to climb to eighth position in the division.
Zidane’s men remain fourth, six points behind Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid, who have one game less than their rivals in the city. Madrid will travel to Seville before hosting Diego Simeone’s team in the derby in the capital a week later.
