One less and thanks to Lucas Vazquez’s header in the corner in stoppage time. This is how Real Madrid ended its 2023 in La Liga, a competition in which it leads (tied with Girona) with a seven-point lead over Barcelona and 10 over Atlético Madrid, one game less.

Ancelotti’s side went into the game with hopes of ending the year as leaders of La Liga after a draw between Betis and Girona; However, good work from Deportivo Alaves prevented Real, who had one less from the 54th minute, from easily picking up three points in Mendizorroza.

The 14-time European champion faces this clash after a day marked by a European Justice ruling in favor of the Florentino Perez-promoted Super League. So much so that La Liga organized, together with the clubs, a protest against the tournament, which aims to be born completely independent of UEFA.

Super leader, little more than the leader that Real Madrid is from now until at least 2024 thanks to a very worthwhile victory over Alaves, where the Madridistas were left without ten players due to Nacho being sent off after stomping – unintentionally. , but recklessly – O Samu.

Luis García Plaza’s team played a tense match, with little space between the lines and constant support from his team. The plan worked almost perfectly. The minutes passed and although Alaves did not pose a threat, they did not suffer as much as expected when the opponent is Real Madrid.

Brahim, fresh from a brilliant performance against Villarreal, stood out as the most enthusiastic of the visitors. The Malaga striker showed verticality and imbalance and was the only one capable of disrupting an Alava defense that left little space for Bellingham, Rodrigo and co. A powerful long-range shot from Valverde, saved by Sivera, and nothing else – that’s what Real Madrid contributed to the attack in the first half.

The game returned from the break with the coolness of the evening in Vitoria and did not end until Nacho returned to the dressing room. Thouameni then replaced Modric, replacing Nacho in central defence, with Real Madrid fielding the line-up expected to be in their backline. Ancelotti’s team pulled back, let Rodrigo off the hook and showed a more positional formation, but with more commitment.

The Whites put on their overalls and, despite being outnumbered, put pressure on Alaves, who did not fall victim to the merengue’s dominance. Real Madrid’s chance looked to have been wasted thanks to Rodrigo’s shot hitting the top corner. Alaves reached the goal with a valuable point that thwarted Real’s goal of topping La Liga at Christmas; However, one detail decided the outcome of the fight.

Alaves, as their coach lamented in statements after the game DAZN, did not know how to play the last actions, and in the 92nd minute, when he had the ball, he received a corner. A string of errors, partly caused by Real’s efforts, saw the ball end up in the corner at Kroos’s feet. The German took out his glove and a mistake allowed just 1.73m Lucas Vazquez to finish off, giving Real three points and the lead at the end of 2023.