SAN FRANCISCO, November 29, (THEWILL) –Â Head coach Zinedine Zidane witnessed a horror show unfold from his team as La Liga champions Real Madrid were stunned 2-1 by Deportivo Alaves and lost Eden Hazard to another injury.
Forwards for the visitors Lucas Perez and Joselu scored consigning Madrid to a third defeat in their opening 10 La Liga games this term, their title defence getting off to a stuttering start.
Of the 15 times Madrid had previously played home games against Alaves in La Liga, they had won 14. The only one they lost was a 1-0 setback in May 2000. The Santiago Bernabeu was a fortress that Alaves had found too difficult to crack.
However, in Madrid’s temporary home at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium this season, it was a completely different story. And the results prove it.
A fifth-minute penalty gave Alaves the chance for an opener when Victor Laguardia’s header struck Nacho on the upper arm. Perez took it confidently, finding the left corner from the spot.
Perez almost doubled the lead but for Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois, who produced a sharp stop to palm away his chip after he waltzed in behind the Madrid defence.
Hazard’s wretched run of luck continued as he had to be substituted just before the half-hour mark, leaving the pitch with a hobble. Moments earlier he had taken a fall in the Alaves penalty area.
After a shambolic attempt by Alaves to walk the ball out of defence from a goal kick, central defensive midfielder Toni Kroos was denied by a fine double save from Alaves goalie Fernando Pacheco.
That proved costly for Madrid as Alaves stretched their lead in the 49th minute. Goalie Courtois tried to pick a pass to midfielder Casemiro, but Joselu stole in to intercept and side-foot into the empty net from 25 yards.
In the 66th minute, former Deportivo La Coruna and Arsenal striker Perez was denied by Courtois as he breached the home backline again. Joselu then sent a thumping drive just wide of the top left corner as the two goalscorers combined.
Rodrygo and Lucas Vazquez went narrowly wide as Madrid sought a way back into the game. In the 86th minute, Casemiro finally scored from close range. But, they could not force a late leveller, although Isco went close when he clipped the top of the crossbar in the sixth minute of extra time.
Courtois dropped a clanger and his fellow Belgian Hazard might be facing another stretch on the sidelines, so it was a shocker all round. That 4-1 thrashing by Valencia in early November should have been a wake-up call, but Madrid were again dire here. A late equaliser would have flattered them.
Madrid next face Shakhtar Donetsk in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League, while Alaves are back in La Liga action when they host high-flying Real Sociedad on the Sunday of next weekend.
